Bmed to resume Beirut flights

Sunday, 17 Aug, 2006 0

British Airways franchise partner BMED will be the first commercial airline back into Beirut following the end of hostilities in Lebanon.

The first flight is due to land at 16:45 today and is carrying Save the Children and vital aid supplies from the Lebanese Welfare Community Aid organisation, together with a group of invited guests led by BMED’s chairman, Lord Hesketh.

The airline plans to resume normal scheduled services between London Heathrow and Beirut early next week when Beirut’s airport becomes fully operational again, initially offering only four of the usual eight flights a week.

BMED was forced to suspend services when the city’s airport was closed by air attacks on July 13.

“All of us at BMED are delighted to be at the forefront of getting Beirut back to business after the turmoil of recent weeks,” said Lord Hesketh.

“Beirut is a very special destination for BMED. It is the route that launched our company in 1994 and since that time we have seen the service go from strength to strength. We are deeply committed to the Lebanese market.”

“Throughout the recent difficulties, the BA sales office in Beirut has remained open, enabling us to re-arrange the travel plans for many hundreds of people stranded when the airport closed.

“The airport team has been crucial to ensuring our quick and efficient return to Beirut.”

By Bev Fearis

Bev

Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.