Arabesk (airline alliance)

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Arabesk Network Cooperation Project
Company typeNetwork alignment project
IndustryAviation
Founded2006

Arabesk Network Cooperation Project was a "network alignment project", an unofficial and non-binding airline alliance, comprising members of Arab Air Carriers' Organization (AACO).

This network alignment group was founded in 2006, after a year of preparation with technical assistance from Sabre Airline Solutions, by the following airlines: [1]

AirlineNotes
Flag of Egypt.svg EgyptAir A Star Alliance member
Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg Etihad Airways
Flag of Bahrain.svg Gulf Air
Flag of Lebanon.svg Middle East Airlines A SkyTeam member
Flag of Jordan.svg Royal Jordanian A oneworld member
Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Saudia A SkyTeam member
Flag of Syria.svg Syrian Air
Flag of Tunisia.svg Tunisair
Flag of Yemen.svg Yemenia

In 2007, Etihad Airways and Syrian Air joined the alliance. [2]

The project aimed to boost market share and coordinate schedules, reduce duplication on routes and link the destinations network of its members, which stretched from North America to East Asia. [3] At that time, Arab airline operators were generally not included in the major airline alliances, partly because of their relatively small market share. [4]

As well as coordinating schedules, the Arabesk carriers consolidated joint fuel purchasing under the AACO umbrella, and other supplies. [4] Abdul Wahab Teffaha, Secretary General of AACO, explained, “This is not an airline alliance, but a unique grouping of carriers from a single region designed to help members realise better commercial potential, through schedule coordination.” [5]

The project continued until the end of the decade. [6]

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References

  1. Aviation Week, Mar 10, 2006: "Middle East Airlines finalize Arabesk Alliance". Archived from the original on 2012-02-07. Retrieved 2007-10-31.
  2. AACO, 23 October 2007. "Etihad Airways and Syrian Arab Airlines join "Arabesk"". Archived from the original on 2009-03-28. Retrieved 2007-10-31.
  3. Gulf News (10 October 2005). "Arab airline alliance planned". Zawya. Archived from the original on 4 May 2007. Retrieved 6 March 2014.
  4. 1 2 "Arabesk makes airlines' ops more efficient". Aviation International News. 7 December 2006. Retrieved 6 March 2014.
  5. AACO, 10 February 2006. "Founder Airlines of Arabesk sign Articles of Co-operation". Archived from the original on 2007-06-25. Retrieved 2007-10-31.
  6. Arab Air Carriers Organization (AACO), "Joint projects". Archived from the original on 2010-10-23. Retrieved 2008-07-17.