By JONNA SIMON
When it comes to airlines, cooperation is the name of the game. Even if they are not members of the main alliance groupings, carriers still have to make international agreements with other airlines for their passengers' smooth onward journeys.
In addition, at many airports an airline must appoint its own ground handling agents to take care of baggage, check-in etc.
Though most Gulf airlines have code-sharing with friendly carriers, even major airlines like Emirates and Gulf Air have not joined an alliance yet.
In fact there is a big gap in the Middle East for Star, oneworld and other alliances and the key question remains which alliance will be the first to tempt a Gulf airline into its camp and which will be the first airline to enroll?
Chances are it will be Gulf Air, for Emirates has already publicly stated that it is not interested in joining alliances preferring to remain "independent" although it has close links through code-shares with Thai International, South African Airways and British Airways.
Gulf Air too has similar code-share agreements.
Emirates also has a 42 per cent shareholding in SriLankan Airlines with a 10-year management contract.
Until recently it was perhaps one of the most potent subjects in the airlines world of the Middle East, but the aftermath of September 11 and the subsequent economic downturn has seen a number of members of alliances losing money, facing possible bankruptcy and asking for support from governments, all of which according to some aviation experts raises some question marks over the viability of such groupings.
Whether it be alliances, code-shares or the cooperation provided by Iata membership, there is a tradition of help and support between airlines, which is not reflected in their competitive advertising - and particularly among the Arab carriers, who have their own AACO group (Arab Air Carriers Organisation).
Some passengers and travel agents would say that there has always been a 'cartel' type thinking by Iata, but in these days of enhanced security and safety the level of cooperation enjoyed by these airlines is to be welcomed.
Occasionally when a passenger's bags do not arrive on the same flight, passengers quite rightly complain with the system, but everyday from Gulf airports hundreds of thousands of suitcases are checked in, security screened, loaded and at the destination unloaded within minutes of the aircraft's arrival, ready for the passengers to arrive home or at a hotel at a pre-determined time.
A sort of miracle, which happens over and over again.
TTN is the most established trade publication in the Middle East distributed on a controlled circulation basis to members of the travel and tourism industry.
Published monthly by Al Hilal Publishing and Marketing Group, the region’s foremost trade publisher, TTN is aimed at professionals in the industry, from travel agents to airline and hotel personnel.
TTN provides in-depth and extensive coverage of relevant issues in the Middle East and North Africa as well as in other parts of the world. Travel related news, analysis, and new appointments together with information on up-coming exhibitions, marketing and promotional campaigns are presented in an innovative and striking colour tabloid.
Every issue also contains a collation of international and regional news and topical features of interest to readers.
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