bmi announces new codeshare with Continental Airlines
Source: bmi 02/11/2009
bmi, the better for business airline, is today announcing a new codeshare with Continental Airlines as the U.S. airline becomes the 25th member of the Star Alliance. The new agreement will provide bmi customers with access to a wider range of destinations in America in a single booking.
Continental is the world’s fifth largest airline and the new codeshare with bmi is effective immediately for travel from 1 November 2009. The deal will allow bmi to offer fares to Newark Liberty International (New York) and George Bush Intercontinental (Houston) from London Heathrow, Manchester, Birmingham International, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Brussels and improve connections between America and the wider bmi network.
Continental will be able to sell tickets for customers on bmi’s services connecting through the same set of UK destinations as well as Belfast, and Amman, giving the airline’s customers better access to the Jordanian capital, a burgeoning business and leisure travel destination. Additional codeshare destinations will be launched in phases through the end of the year.
Katherine Gershon, Sales and Marketing Director, bmi said the new agreement is part of the airline’s strategy of increasing its Star Alliance partnerships. “Our new codeshare agreement with Continental will mean our customers have the opportunity to travel on new services between our key departure points and the United States. Starting with Newark and Houston, we hope to extend our collaboration with Continental to other destinations in the Americas.”
Jim Compton, Continental’s Executive Vice President Marketing , said: “We are delighted to sign this agreement with bmi, our new Star Alliance partner, which enables us to offer our customers an even greater range of travel options.”
The deal comes shortly after bmi announced a codeshare agreement with Aegean Airlines, extending the airline’s reach into Greece.
bmi is committed to maintaining the highest possible service standards for the frequent business and leisure traveller. Complimentary Chauffeur Drive service is available from London Heathrow and UK regional airports, meaning customers travelling on selected Business Class fares to Almaty, Amman, Azerbaijan, Beirut, Cairo, Damascus, Kyrgyzstan, Moscow, Saudi Arabia, Tel Aviv and Yerevan can now take advantage of this service to and from the airport at each end. The service is also available in the UK only for those travelling to Tehran and Tbilisi.
In addition to benefits including online check-in and Chauffeur Drive, customers can also take advantage of Diamond Club, the UK’s most generous frequent flyer programme, and bmi’s Company Rewards programme for SMEs (small and medium enterprises). Diamond Club destinations miles can be spent on flights with Star Alliance member airlines, hotel accommodation and on a range of gifts and treats.
