British Mediterranean Airways (BMed) is working to overcome the failure of its planned franchise agreement with British Airways by instigating the expansion plans originally envisaged as part of the link-up (Flight International, 18-24 September 1996, P9), and is continuing its search for a new airline partner.
Des Hetherington, BMed's chief executive, refutes suggestions that there was a hidden agenda behind BA's on-off courtship, saying that time constraints only prevented the airline meeting all the standard BA franchise conditions in time for it to link up on BA's winter 1996/97 schedule.
Lord Hesketh, the airline's chairman, believes that the only sensible way for a small airline to grow is to link with a major carrier. Hesketh does not indicate in which direction BMed's search for a partner is headed, but there are indications that the door has been left open for new discussions with BA.
BMed intends to initiate its previously proposed expansion in the coming months, either with or without a partner. These plans include additional destinations in the Middle East, and the acquisition of a second Airbus A320.
New routes are expected to include Bishkek in Kyrgyzia, Tbilisi in Georgia, Alexandria in Egypt and the Uzbekistan capital Tashkent. The airline is also still planning to serve points in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.
Source: Flight International
