Bmi

Bmi has said that its new daily service to Israel from Heathrow airport is proving popular with 22,000 bookings already made.

Speaking in Tel Aviv, following its inaugural Heathrow to Ben Gurion flight, Bmi chief executive Nigel Turner said: "This is our most successful ever short haul route launch."

The introduction of Bmi to Israel follows lengthy negations to allow competition to BA and El Al who have dominated the Heathrow-Tel Aviv route.

"We identified Tel Aviv as having potential for greater competition and one that has an ideal fit with our mid haul expansion strategy from Heathrow," Turner added.