Doha, Dec 30, Award-winning Qatar Airways and Saudi Arabian Airlines, one of the largest global airlines, has signed a bilateral code-share agreement that will link two of the region's largest airline networks.
This is the first code-share agreement for Qatar Airways with a Gulf carrier. Saudi Arabian Airlines has signed several agreements with other regional carriers such as Kuwait Airlines and Gulf Air.
Under the new bilateral code-share agreement, which will be effective from Feb. 1, 2006, passengers traveling between Doha and Dammam on Saudi Arabian Airlines will be able to enjoy the "five stars" services of Qatar Airways which is to be one of the four airlines in the world ranked as a "Five-Star" carrier by Skytrax, the independent aviation industry-monitoring agency.
Simply put, a code-share agreement is an arrangement whereby an airline sells seats, under its own name, on another carrier's flight. Code-sharing between two airlines allows an airline to put its two-letter identification code on the flights of another airline as they appear in computerized reservations systems and in the Official Airline Guide.
The code-share agreement was signed between Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker and Dr. Ayed Al-Amri, general manager, Commercial Agreements and Hajj Affairs of Saudi Arabian Airlines.
"This new code-share marks a historic milestone for Qatar Airways and Saudi Arabian Airlines and is the beginning of a long-term relationship that will help strengthen ties between our two countries," said Al Baker, speaking at a press conference in Doha.
"We look forward to a prosperous relationship with Saudi Arabian Airlines and a long-term partnership that is going to deliver additional value to passengers flying on the Doha-Dammam route," Saudi Gazette quoted Al Baker as saying.
Al-Amri expressed his satisfaction of the agreement and said that it will also allow regional expansion of the two airlines. "The agreement will increase the marketing alliances in the region and it will help in reducing the operational costs for both carriers," says Al-Amri.
Al-Amri added, "Strategic alliance is one of Saudi Airlines' strategic directions, and currently the airline is involved in many code-share agreements that help the airline to penetrate new markets and add more routes with less operational costs."
The Saudi delegation to Doha also included Mohammad Rushdi Fairak, senior manager, Bilateral Commercial Agreement, and Nowaf Alharbi, Saudi Arabian Airlines manager in Qatar and Bahrain.
The occasion was attended by Ahmad Al-Idrisi, Qatar Airways' Saudi Arabia regional manager for Western province. Al-Idrisi played a major role in the preparation of the agreement by coordinating between the two airlines from the beginning of the negotiation until the signing.
Saudi Arabian Airlines is one of the largest airlines in the world with some 150 aircraft. In October 2005, the airline celebrated its 60th anniversary and the carrying of 16 million passengers during the year.
