Privately-owned British airline BMI announced plans to increase its services to Saudi Arabia after the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabian governments agreed to allow more flights. BMI said UK and Saudi officials have agreed to increase the number of weekly services permitted between the two countries to 35. “BMI intends to take full advantage of the opportunity this provides and will seek to add to its existing services from London Heathrow to Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam,” the East Midlands-based group said. BMI launched its first route to Saudi Arabia on Sept. 1, 2005, serving the capital Riyadh. It introduced services to Jeddah on May 18, 2006, followed by Dammam on March 15, 2008. Lufthansa AG holds a stake of 30 percent minus one share in the company, BMI Chairman Sir Michael Bishop holds 50 percent plus one share and SAS AB holds the 20 percent.
