UK airline bmi has announced a number of new flights to the Middle East from Heathrow Airport.

The new offerings include a daily Cairo flight and extra direct services to Amman in Jordan and Beirut in Lebanon, coming into effect from October 28th.

Also announced was a deal with EgyptAir which will enable the two airlines to form codeshare and frequent flyer agreements in the future.

Nigel Turner, chief executive of bmi, said that the new flights and the complete integration of the former BMED network represent "the biggest expansion that we will have ever undertaken in a single action".

"The introduction of new competition onto routes has historically invigorated markets and we expect our new competitive service from Heathrow to the Egyptian capital of Cairo to appeal to both leisure and business travellers alike," he added.

Last week, the airline announced that it is to acquire ten additional Airbus aircraft as part of a strategy to increase its mid and long-haul services.

• Qantas developing new business class services
• Eastern Airways most punctual scheduled airline
• Etihad experiences busiest day ever
• Singapore Air receives fifth A380
• Bmi planning more Heathrow to Saudi Arabia flights
• New bmi flights from Edinburgh to Copenhagen
• United Airlines opens new Chicago O'Hare lounge
• Etihad boosts Heathrow-Abu Dhabi flights
• American Airlines to test inflight broadband
• Awards recognise best of Asia