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bmi plans expansion

Low-cost carrier bmi plans to expand to offer more medium- and long-haul services.

The airline's board has approved a strategy of developing new mid-haul and long-haul routes from London Heathrow and has made money available to purchase new planes to operate these services.

Now the airline plans to expand with the purchase of five new Airbus A330s. The first new craft will be delivered during the spring of 2008.

Earlier this year, bmi acquired British Mediterranean Airways (BMED), and this growth means the airline will also take delivery of five new Airbus A321s.

"I am delighted that we are able to proceed with the development and expansion of our medium- and long-haul services," Nigel Turner, chief executive of bmi, commented.

"Delivery of ten further aircraft will allow the introduction of new routes and upgrade capacity on existing services in these two important sectors of our business.

"Later this year we will be announcing network plans for our long haul operations in 2008."

In the future, bmi will offer long-haul flights to destinations like Egypt, Ethiopia, Senegal and Jordan.

It will also begin more flights to the US and Bermuda in March 2008.

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