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Al-Ahram Weekly 4 - 10 May 2000 Issue No. 480 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 4 - 10 May 2000 Issue No. 480
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Special Features Travel Living Sports Profile People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters 'Strategic bloc' in Arab skies
By Sherine Nasr
REPRESENTATIVES of 18 Arab airlines and a number of regional and international air associations gathered last week in Cairo to discuss coordinating and encouraging integration among Arab airlines, reports Sherine Nasr.
"The aviation sector is facing tremendous challenges in the form of strategic allies, open-sky policies, and e-commerce," said Abdel-Wahab Tofaha, secretary-general of the Arab Air Carriers Organisation (AACO), at its 33rd annual meeting.
To meet such challenges, Fahim Rayyan, chairman of EgyptAir, the national carrier, said it would be better for national air companies in the region to move as one strategic bloc. "We become more powerful and more influential when we act as one unified entity," Rayyan told the gathering.
Among the AACO's achievements has been to unify the automatic reservation system in 10 member states, a process that helped save some $100 million last year. "The system is open for more members to join," Tofaha said.
Moreover, negotiations with international petroleum companies in the region were held to obtain fuel at more favourable prices. Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Libya, Kuwait and the Gulf states were involved in the talks. "National air carriers in these countries could save up to $10 million," said Rayyan, adding that Arab air carriers saved up to $5 million when they agreed to have one unified landing service in their airports.
To improve service, the AACO, founded in 1965, also established the Regional Training Centre (RTC) to enhance the quality of the aviation industry in the Middle East.
