BMED is to expand its network to West Africa this winter, with the introduction of new services to Freetown, Sierra Leone, and Dakar, Senegal. They will be the only all scheduled services providing direct links between the UK and the two countries and will bring BMED’s overall network coverage to 18 destinations in the Middle East, Central Asia, Europe and Africa.

Flights to Freetown and Dakar will begin from BMED’s London Heathrow hub on 30th October 2006. The route will be served initially by three flights a week using BMED’s 149-seat Airbus A321, offering a choice of Club World and World Traveller cabins.

David Richardson, BMED Chief Executive, said:

“The introduction of services to West Africa is the latest phase in our current programme of progressive business expansion. We have identified a clear need for direct air links with Freetown and Dakar and we feel that these destinations are ideally suited to our fleet and the style of service BMED offers. We see good prospects for sustainable growth in these emerging markets.”

As a British Airways franchise partner, BMED aircraft carry the British Airways livery and operate with BA flight numbers, delivering services to BA standards and specifications.

The new routes to Dakar and Freetown will bring British Airways branded services to this part of West Africa for the first time since British Airways discontinued its own operation in the early 1990s.

BMED’s latest expansion follows the launch of the airline’s new service between London and Ankara, Turkey in March this year. At the same time, two new Airbus A321s have recently been delivered to bring the total fleet of A320 and A321 aircraft to eight. A further five A321s are on order for delivery over the next four years. Further network development is under active consideration.
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