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Joint
Projects
Since the 1990s, AACO started
a new activity, which formed in earnest
one of the first alliances in the
world. All members of AACO are party
to one or more joint projects that
AACO manages on the basis of the creation
of common sets of interest for the
members in question.
These joint projects achieved a cost/benefit
ratio of 1/200: An achievement that
has become the trademark of AACO.
Amadeus Joint Agreement
AACO has a joint distribution
agreement with a global leader in
technology and distribution solutions
for the travel industry, Amadeus. This
global agreement , is the fourth
contract of its kind in the past 17
years but by far the largest in terms
of the number of AACO Airlines
involved as it includes thirteen
member airlines after seven additional
airlines have joined the successful
partnership between six member
airlines and Amadeus.
AACO’s strategy is to achieve the best
possible cost and value structure for
the airline members partnering with a
leading-edge technology provider who
has a strong global presence e These
airlines benefit from the joint
distribution agreement on different
levels mainly the intensive presence
of Amadeus in their home markets ,
Amadeus' strategic technology
partnership and rationalizing the
distribution cost for the airline
members.
The National Marketing Company (NMC)
in each home market of the thirteen
member airlines will caters for the
market needs while bring
customer-oriented distribution
technology to the travel agents.
The project coordinator in AACO
is Mr. Fadi Fahes
Group members: Air Algerie,
Afriqiyah Airways, EgyptAir, Etihad
Airways, Kuwait Airways, Libyan
Airlines, Qatar Airways, Royal Air
Maroc, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Sudan
Airways, Syrian Arab Airlines,
Tunisair and Yemen Airways.
Joint MIDT Processing
The MIDT Joint Purchasing and
Analysis group includes 7 member
airlines that have signed agreements
with Sabre Airline Solutions, and
individual data purchasing agreements
with the major CRSs, namely Amadeus,
Galileo, Sabre and Worldspan.
The participating carriers benefit
from economies of scale under the
umbrella of AACO including joint
training, as well as direct savings on
the processing cost.
MIDT is a comprehensive data source
for worldwide Origin and Destination
traffic. It grants participating
carriers a stronger competitive edge,
allows the airlines to conduct deep
analysis of the information and
provides the airlines with an
important decision making tool.
Airline reports indicate that carriers
who have integrated MIDT information
within their various functions and
departments have witnessed a
significant increase in their market
shares.
The project coordinator in
AACO is Mr. Fadi Fahes
Group members: Egypt Air,
Gulf Air, Kuwait Airways, Middle East
Airlines, Royal Jordanian, Saudi Arabian
Airlines and Yemen Airways.
Joint Cooperation at Outstations
The Ground Handling project is a
true example of the real power of
group cooperation and group
agreements. During the past year, a
collective saving of approximately USD
11 million was achieved by the
participating members, in addition to
improved contractual terms, savings,
and premium quality of the services
provided by AACO's handling partners
at the various outstations.
The AACO ground handling steering
board includes 16 member airlines that
have signed joint agreements with
various service providers at
outstations, such as Istanbul with
Havas, Frankfurt Airport with Fraport,
and Rome with Flightcare Italia S.P.A.
The project is still attracting new
members to the joint agreements at
various stations and the Board will be
developing and expanding the project
to cover more stations in France, UK ,
India, Philippines, Pakistan, and
more.
The project coordinator in
AACO is Ms. Rola Jawad
Group members: Air Algerie, Air
Cairo , Royal Air Maroc, Gulf Air,
Yemen Airways, Kuwait Airways, Libyan
Airlines, Middle East Airlines,
EgyptAir, Qatar Airways, Syrian Arab
Airlines, Royal Jordanian, Sudan
Airways, Saudi Arabian Airlines ,
Tunis Air and Etihad Airways.
Joint Fuel Purchasing Project
The AACO Joint
Fuel Purchasing project successfully
provides better economic environment
and contractual advantages to the
Arab airlines. The project aims at
reducing the cost of purchasing fuel
through joint bidding and joint
negotiations with fuel suppliers in
order to consummate profitable
savings. The group also purchases
fuel by direct negotiations in
stations where the market is
monopolistic and where we try to get
discounts for the benefit of our
members.
In 2009, AACO managed to save about USD
30
millions in fuel services fees due
to the joint fuel purchasing
approach covering the requirements
of 18 Arab airlines in 370 airports
worldwide for 420 million gallons.
The project coordinator in
AACO is Ms. Mirna Khalil
Group members: Tunis Air, Saudi Arabian Airlines,
Syrian Arab Airlines, Qatar Airways,
Royal Jordanian, Sudan Airways,
Yemen Airways, Middle East Airlines,
Kuwait Airways, EgyptAir, Gulf Air,
Oman Air, Libyan Airlines, Afriqiyah
Airways, Air Arabia, Jordan
Aviation, Air Cairo and Air Algerie.
Joint MRO Project
With the tremendous airline
expansion in the Middle East region,
the demand on maintenance, repair and
overhaul activities shall be
witnessing a gradual increase with
peak opportunities within few years
ahead. An MRO Focus Group has been
established to develop and promote
technical agreements between members
in order to save costs and create
mutual benefits. The common purchase
of spare parts and highly utilized
material is also among the high
priorities of the project.
The project coordinator in
AACO is Mr. Mazen Bekdash
Joint Safety Initiatives
AACO's dedication to
Safety has been proved through the
joint IOSA (IATA Operational Safety
Audit) implementation project through
the last years. By the end of 2008,
most AACO members were either IOSA
certified or scheduled for an audit
before March 2009.
AACO's
initiatives on safety matters have
extended to a joint ERP (Emergency
Response and Planning) project which
will be rendering long term benefits
to members and contribute positively
to regional safety. The approach
include training courses, workshops,
exchange of information and expertise
and special discounted offers from
international emergency and medical
service providers. Safety shall remain
a fixed priority for the Technical
Committee.
The project coordinator in
AACO is Mr. Mazen Bekdash
Network Cooperation Project "Arabesk"
AACO is working on different levels
to develop the collective network
for member airlines in order to strengthen
their competitive position. Nine
airlines cooperate on the network
cooperation project to align schedules
which would give incremental returns
on primary coordination. This project
is the core for deeper coordination
leading to a Virtual Alliance,
and may involve other members.
The project coordinator in
AACO is Mr. Fadi Fahes
Group members: Gulf Air, Saudi
Arabian Airlines, Middle East Airlines,
EgyptAir, Royal Jordanian, Yemen Airways, Tunis Air,
Etihad Airways, and Syrianair.
Optimization of Air Routes
Establishing efficient air route
network results in many eminent
benefits to all aviation
stakeholders. AACO, in
collaboration with ICAO, IATA and
ACAC, is continuously seeking new
regional routes which would result
in savings costs and reducing the
negative effects on the environment.
A dedicated task force has been
established at AACO to tackle this
matter.
The project coordinator in
AACO is Mr. Mazen Bekdash
Regional Training Center
AACO Regional Training Center (RTC)
was established in Amman in 1996 with
a mission statement to offer cost
effective quality training to AACO
members. This scope was broadened
to include business related partners
and to serve as the main hub for most
regional training activities and facilities.
Due to increasing demand, AACO RTC
expanded its regional scope and introduced
various courses offered in a number
of Arab locations and in different
languages, as well introduced new
services as consultancy services and
in-house customized training courses
at the Airline's premises.
The project coordinator in
AACO is Mr. Ahmad Rihan
Supporting Green Aviation
AACO is committed to supporting the
green aviation initiatives through
working with its members to reduce the
impact of the aviation industry on the
environment. This is being achieved
through the newly established
Environmental Task Force in addition
to the collaboration with
international organizations.
The project coordinator in
AACO is Mr. Mazen Bekdash
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