JEDDAH: A French advertising company has entered into a 10-year contract for the exclusive advertising concession covering all of the Kingdom's 26 airports.
Jean-Charles Decaux, chairman of JCDecaux ATA's executive board and its co-CEO, on Saturday criticized the empty advertising boards close to Jeddah's airport, something that he said was "not acceptable" and did not present a positive image of the Kingdom.
Addressing a press conference after the signing ceremony, he said JCDecaux ATA would enhance advertising in Saudi airports and lay special stress on training programs.
Answering a question Decaux assured that there would be more job opportunities in the Saudi market. He cited Shanghai and Dubai where JCDecaux ATA created an extra 10 percent of jobs in five years.
The company was selected out of 22 advertising companies, and will have a budget of SR66 million to develop advertising in airports within the coming 10 years.
Referring to questions regarding the King Abdulaziz International Airport and the closure of Sama Airlines, GACA President Abdullah Rehaimi said work at the airport was proceeding and that a report had been submitted to officials clarifying the need to improve services at the airport. "Sama could return to business, however this is for the owners to decide," he said.
Rehaimi, however, added that they have examined the demand and supply to open more space for private aviation companies that are able to provide high quality services with adequate options to different layers of society.
JCDecaux ATA reached 33 percent of air travelers around the world and represents a total of 1,430 million passengers out of the 4,378 million people who travel by air worldwide. The company operates within 56 countries, two of which are the UAE and Qatar.
By FATIMA SIDIYA
© Arab News 2010
