Attempts to boost aviation cooperation in the Arab world are gathering pace. Ten carriers are considering a consultants' study recommending a pan-Arab airline alliance, while the birth of the long-awaited Arab Civil Aviation Commis- sion promises to strengthen ties further.
A nine-month study on behalf of 10 of the 17 Arab Air Carriers Organisation members by consultants SH&E recommends a two-pronged approach to alliance building. In the short term, the study suggests the group should cooperate more closely, starting with shared handling and city offices in outstations, says AACO's new secretary general Abdul Wahab Teffaha. The scheme would help cut costs and increase marketing power at most destinations outside the Arab world. In the longer term, the report suggest some or all of the 10 carriers should form a joint alliance with a major carrier from Europe, the US and Asia.
The 10 carriers included in this study are Saudi Arabian, Kuwait Airways, Royal Jordanian, Syrianair, Middle East Airlines, Egyptair, Libyan Arab Airlines, Tunisair, Air Algerie and Royal Air Maroc.
Arab cooperation received a further fillip with the first meeting of 15 Arab governments under the umbrella of Acac in early June. The aim of the Rabat-based grouping is to establish a general structure for civil aviation and air safety, and to promote links between civil aviation authorities and airlines in the region.
Moroccan director of civil aviation Abdul Jawad Al-Daoudi has been elected president of Acac's executive council, while Saudi Arabia has seconded Abdullah Ahmed Mejjallid for a two-year term as director general.
Mejjallid refuses to speculate whether Acac might move into the realm of commercial regulation like the European Commission, although the legal framework exists through the Arab League. But Teffaha describes Acac as 'a step forward towards the eventual possibility of a bloc' and points to the formation of a joint AACO-Acac working group to address such issues as slot allocation in Europe, liability, CRS, the Future Air Navigation System, taxation and the General Agreement on Trade in Services. The group was due to meet in Damascus by August. In addition, Teffaha says he will encourage the AACO carriers to collaborate on purchasing and new technology, and will campaign for a better deal for members from the major CRSs.
The Arab carriers are clearly concerned about their future in the increasingly cut-throat airline business. However, previous efforts to unite them have failed as a result of differing political and commercial agendas. A pan-Arab alliance, for example, could disrupt existing relationships with carriers outside the region. In addition, some major Arab carriers, including Emirates and Gulf Air, declined to take part in the SH&E study.
Richard Whitaker
Source: Airline Business
