Britain's second largest airline bmi has announced it will suspend its route between London Heathrow and Tel Aviv, less than two years after it was launched.

According to a statement released by the airline, the route is one of five, including Amsterdam and Brussels, to be suspended in an attempt “to improve the profitability of bmi”.

The statement also said that the airline, which is owned by German airline Lufthansa, “will focus on routes serving oil, energy and emerging markets with a particular focus on business class customers and those visiting friends and relatives.”

Dominic Paul, bmi’s managing director, said: “We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience the route suspensions will cause our customers and would like to take this opportunity to thank those who have supported us on these routes for their loyalty and business.

“Reprotection options will be available to all affected customers from 2 December 2009 and we will be contacting customers in order of travel date.”

Bmi began flying to Israel on March 13 2008 with one daily flight, seven flights per week.

In March 2009 an additional daily non-stop service from London Heathrow to Tel Aviv was added so that services from London Heathrow to Tel Aviv operated twice daily with a morning service and an evening service.

The last flight from Heathrow will be on January 9 2010 and from Tel Aviv on January 10 2010.