06 April 2004
Gulf Air and Royal Jordanian yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) paving the way for both airlines to enjoy code sharing at the three major destinations.
The MoU signing ceremony was attended by the president and chief executive of both airlines. Gulf Air has become the first Middle East-based carrier to sign a code-sharing agreement with Amman-based Royal Jordanian. The agreement signing ceremony was held at the Moevenpick Hotel by Gulf Air president and chief executive James Hogan and Royal Jordanian president and chief executive Samer Majali.
The ceremony was also attended by Fareed Al Alawi, Gulf Air, vice-president, networks, and Ghassan Ali, vice-president, commercial services, Royal Jordanian. Hogan termed the agreement a step forward to form partnerships and alliances within the region to cope with stiff competition in the global aviation industry.
“The code-sharing agreement with Royal Jordanian is part of our strategy to develop business by entering into partnerships with major carriers across the world. This agreement complement both airlines’ efforts to tap existing business opportunities,” he further said.
Majali said Gulf Air’s bold decision to be official sponsor of Formula One Grand Prix has put the Kingdom on the global map. “Now everybody’s talking about Bahrain, and it’s a good opportunity for Royal Jordanian to enter into an alliance with Gulf Air as a part of our business strategy.
“Alliances and partnerships among airlines aren’t new as KLM and Air France, the biggest airlines, have just concluded an agreement. Such alliances help to boost businesses in a very competitive environment,” he further said.
According to the new code-share agreement, effective May 1, both airlines can use services between Abu Dhabi and Bahrain to and from Amman.
“The region has enormous potential for expansion and development, and alliances such as these will strengthen the regional marketplace,” said Hogan. “Our relationship with Royal Jordanian is consistent with industry behaviour across the world with airlines entering into alliances to leverage off each other’s network strengths where they themselves can’t effectively operate or on routes which they currently operate but don’t offer the desired level of frequency.
“In this case, Gulf Air and Royal Jordanian will collectively offer their customers increased choice. By extending our relationships through alliances such as this, both airlines and customers win as the airlines are able to achieve cost synergies, and our customers gain access to a broader global market.”
Other destinations for code share between airlines, including Australia, are planned for the future. Additionally, Royal Jordanian will carry passengers to onward destinations in Europe and North America while Gulf Air will provide Royal Jordanian passengers with onward destination services to Australia and the Far East.
“We’re pleased to be teaming up with Royal Jordanian to offer our customers more options and convenience when travelling in the Middle East and around the world,” Hogan added. “We’re trying to rationalise operations between Amman, Bahrain and Abu Dhabi in order to offer better quality services to the public, better schedules and a greater choice of flights,” said Majali. “Code sharing beyond Jordan and the Gulf will allow each carrier to offer new destinations without incurring the cost of doing so.”
Farid Al Alawi said Gulf Air would continue to work closely with other partners to tap the enormous business opportunities. “At the end of the day it’s the customer of the airline to enjoy the benefits and privileges of such agreements. Now the passengers of both airlines will enjoy the maximum number of frequencies initially on three sectors and can travel with either airline,” Alawi further said.
Ghassan Ali termed the agreement a major step forward for a closer co-operation in all vital areas of business. “We are happy to sign this agreement with Middle East’s major carrier,” he said, adding that now the passengers can enjoy the network facilities and number of frequencies of both airlines at any given time.
Gulf Air and Royal Jordanian yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) paving the way for both airlines to enjoy code sharing at the three major destinations.
The MoU signing ceremony was attended by the president and chief executive of both airlines. Gulf Air has become the first Middle East-based carrier to sign a code-sharing agreement with Amman-based Royal Jordanian. The agreement signing ceremony was held at the Moevenpick Hotel by Gulf Air president and chief executive James Hogan and Royal Jordanian president and chief executive Samer Majali.
The ceremony was also attended by Fareed Al Alawi, Gulf Air, vice-president, networks, and Ghassan Ali, vice-president, commercial services, Royal Jordanian. Hogan termed the agreement a step forward to form partnerships and alliances within the region to cope with stiff competition in the global aviation industry.
“The code-sharing agreement with Royal Jordanian is part of our strategy to develop business by entering into partnerships with major carriers across the world. This agreement complement both airlines’ efforts to tap existing business opportunities,” he further said.
Majali said Gulf Air’s bold decision to be official sponsor of Formula One Grand Prix has put the Kingdom on the global map. “Now everybody’s talking about Bahrain, and it’s a good opportunity for Royal Jordanian to enter into an alliance with Gulf Air as a part of our business strategy.
“Alliances and partnerships among airlines aren’t new as KLM and Air France, the biggest airlines, have just concluded an agreement. Such alliances help to boost businesses in a very competitive environment,” he further said.
According to the new code-share agreement, effective May 1, both airlines can use services between Abu Dhabi and Bahrain to and from Amman.
“The region has enormous potential for expansion and development, and alliances such as these will strengthen the regional marketplace,” said Hogan. “Our relationship with Royal Jordanian is consistent with industry behaviour across the world with airlines entering into alliances to leverage off each other’s network strengths where they themselves can’t effectively operate or on routes which they currently operate but don’t offer the desired level of frequency.
“In this case, Gulf Air and Royal Jordanian will collectively offer their customers increased choice. By extending our relationships through alliances such as this, both airlines and customers win as the airlines are able to achieve cost synergies, and our customers gain access to a broader global market.”
Other destinations for code share between airlines, including Australia, are planned for the future. Additionally, Royal Jordanian will carry passengers to onward destinations in Europe and North America while Gulf Air will provide Royal Jordanian passengers with onward destination services to Australia and the Far East.
“We’re pleased to be teaming up with Royal Jordanian to offer our customers more options and convenience when travelling in the Middle East and around the world,” Hogan added. “We’re trying to rationalise operations between Amman, Bahrain and Abu Dhabi in order to offer better quality services to the public, better schedules and a greater choice of flights,” said Majali. “Code sharing beyond Jordan and the Gulf will allow each carrier to offer new destinations without incurring the cost of doing so.”
Farid Al Alawi said Gulf Air would continue to work closely with other partners to tap the enormous business opportunities. “At the end of the day it’s the customer of the airline to enjoy the benefits and privileges of such agreements. Now the passengers of both airlines will enjoy the maximum number of frequencies initially on three sectors and can travel with either airline,” Alawi further said.
Ghassan Ali termed the agreement a major step forward for a closer co-operation in all vital areas of business. “We are happy to sign this agreement with Middle East’s major carrier,” he said, adding that now the passengers can enjoy the network facilities and number of frequencies of both airlines at any given time.
© Bahrain Tribune 2004
