British Airways has reaffirmed its commitment to the Egyptian market with the recent launch of direct flights from London Gatwick to the popular Red Sea resort of Sharm El Sheikh.

The national carrier will be deploying its fleet of Airbus A320s for operations in this sector, said the statement from British Airways.

In addition to this, BA has rolled out its new free business loyalty program 'On Business' for travellers on this sector.

Under this On Business program, businesses of all sizes are grouped into tiers on the basis of their spend and the members will get to earn points across the British Airways, Iberia and American Airlines networks based on the fare paid.

The key benefits include exclusive rewards, discounts, as well as the ability to earn Avios, the frequent flyer currency of British Airways.

In addition, On Business points can be redeemed for reward flights and upgrades or the option of choosing money off selected flights across their global network.

The national carrier said the On Business gives companies unrivalled service, great savings and access to a worldwide network of destinations – all helping corporate travel budgets stretch further, and benefit from more rewards.

With the Sharm El Sheikh launch, customers can now choose from two flights a week to the diving holiday hotspot. During the winter, BA will boost the operations flying thrice a week on this sector offering even more options and flexible flying times.

Announcing the debut flight, Mervat Alfy, the commercial manager for British Airways in North Africa, said Sharm El Sheikh has been a consistently favorite tourism destination and a key destination for the airline.

"As we continue to explore opportunities to offer our valued customers industry-best service with convenient routes to preferred destinations, this new flight from Gatwick Airport, the UK’s second largest airport serving 38 million passengers  a year is certainly a welcome addition to help promote tourism to Egypt," she said.

Gatwick airport, said Alfy, is very well located with excellent public transport links into the heart of London and elsewhere.

According to her, the customers can choose to fly with hand baggage only or pick a price that includes 23kg checked luggage allowance.

The traveller fares include complimentary on-board food and the ability to check-in online, via mobile or at the airport, while Club Europe travellers can also enjoy an upgraded dining experience, lounge access, increased baggage allowance and priority boarding, stated Alfy.

Colm Lacy, the head of Commercial Gatwick, expressed delight at adding another route to its 2015 portfolio, thus bringing the total short haul network to 49 routes and 19 long haul.

“Sharm El Sheikh is only five hours away and it’s a popular choice with families and a favourite with divers thanks to the crystal clear waters,” Lacy pointed out.

The launch of the Sharm El Sheikh route closely follows British Airways’ announcement earlier this year that flights to and from Egypt have been relocated to the more spacious, modern and practical design of London Heathrow’s Terminal 5, said the statement from the British carrier.

Terminal 5 lounges can host up to 2,500 people with 112 stores and restaurants and much more to provide travellers with an even more superior customer experience, it added.-TradeArabia News Service