JEDDAH, 19 June 2004 — Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) honored its top travel agents for their performance at an annual awards function held at Al Salam Holiday Inn recently. “The year 2003 has been a very successful year for the airline, especially in Saudi Arabia with all of its territories posting an average 20 percent growth in sales over the preceding year,” a senior PIA executive said. This was despite the fact that PIA had to face a number of constraints during the year in view of its suspension of operation to the South Asian Subcontinent which constitutes a large segment of its market, the official said.
PIA is a large contributor in the Saudi Arabian market, with seven sales offices across the Kingdom. It operates around 2,000 flights annually between the Kingdom and Pakistan, including extra sections during the Haj and Umrah seasons of which close to 1,400 flights are operated from Jeddah alone. This makes its operation one of the largest in the Kingdom after Saudi Arabian Airlines. PIA offers daily flights to Karachi and nonstop direct flights to Lahore, Islamabad and Peshawar several times during the week with onward connections to Europe, North America and the East. During the past year, PIA launched flights to Chicago, Mashad and Tashkent. The Saudi Arabian routes, however, remain among the most important for the airline in view of the traffic generated yearly both locally and from Pakistan during the Umrah and Haj seasons. PIA again had more than 600 flights during the last Haj season carrying more than 110,000 pilgrims, one of the largest operations ever undertaken.
BA Increases Flight Frequency From Kingdom
JEDDAH, 19 June 2004 — British Airways (BA) has introduced an additional flight from Riyadh to London Heathrow, which will operate until Oct. 1. The new daylight flight departs Riyadh at 7.25 a.m., arriving at Heathrow at 12.15 p.m. “This flight is ideally timed for passengers making onward connections from Heathrow to European and North American destinations,” a BA spokesman said. The new flight is launched with a special introductory price offer for World Traveler (economy) passengers, from SR2,720 to the UK and Europe, from SR3,650 to Canada and from SR3,720 to destinations in the United States. Prices are excluding taxes. The addition of this new flight makes BA the only European airline to operate four flights a week form Riyadh to London. Meanwhile, BA has launched a new sleeper service for its club world passengers on overnight flights form Jeddah to London Heathrow. The service is also available on selected overnight flights form North America.
A-I Appoints New Regional Director
JEDDAH, 19 June 2004 — Sanjeev Talwar is Air-India’s (A-I) new regional director for the Gulf, Middle East and Africa. He assumed charge earlier this month from P.P. Singh who has returned to India at the end of his term. Talwar has served many stations in India and abroad and brings to the region his 33-year experience. Prior to this assignment, he was regional director India. He was commercial manager-Tamil Nadu and manager at Abu Dhabi, Singapore and Goa stations. At the A-I headquarters, he headed the revenue management division and also held important positions in the airline’s cargo unit and other sections.
Zahid Travel Offers Summer Packages
JEDDAH, 19 June 2004 — Zahid Travel Agencies has offered various summer packages from Saudi Arabia to Vienna and other Austrian destinations, starting from SR2,960. Package prices range from SR4,155 to SR6,875 (single) and from SR2,960 to SR4,767 (double) to Vienna, Salzburg, Zell am See and Gastein Valley. Stay in Vienna is for four nights, Salzburg three nights, and Zell am See and Gastein Valley seven nights each. Package price includes accommodation in selected four-star hotels, daily breakfast, transfers between airport and hotel, tours in selected cities and transfers between cities with second-class train ticket. “The offer is valid up to Oct. 31,” Zakir H. Siddik said on behalf of the agency.
Gulf Air to Introduce Free Shuttle Service
RIYADH, 19 June 2004 — Gulf Air is introducing a free bus service between Buraida/Onaiza and King Khaled International Airport (KKIA) from June 1. Another shuttle service on the Al-Kharj/Naseem (Riyadh) sector to KKIA will follow from July 3. “These shuttle services will be operated on a daily basis and are part of Gulf Air’s sales blitz targeting all categories of passengers, including premium class, from India and Pakistan. The airline operates 197 flights a week to 14 destinations in the subcontinent,” Naser Karukapadaph, the airline’s district sales manager for the Central Province, said. Its sales team launched a promotional drive targeting South Asian and Far Eastern markets recently. The promotion also covered the Pakistani market from Shumaisy area, while European traffic was the target of an additional drive from the Olaya area. The airline gave away two tickets to toppers of this year’s CBSC exam. It also offered career guidance for students on admission to future professional courses and extended support to Bongomoitry, a Bengali cultural organization, aside from taking part in an ASEAN program organized by the Singapore Embassy. (Rodolfo C. Estimo Jr.)
Hilton, Visa Team Up to Offer Free Hotel Nights
DUBAI, 19 June 2004 — Hilton International has joined forces with card giant Visa International to roll out the seventh successive year of Hilton’s summer holiday promotion, “Hilton for free,” which for the first time features the Conrad brand of luxury hotels. With a bigger and better promotion this year, Middle East travelers can gain free incremental room nights when booking for three consecutive nights or more at over 135 luxurious participating Hilton and Conrad hotels in 45 spectacular destinations around the world until the end of September. All Visa cardholders will also enjoy a 10 percent discount when booking their holiday this summer using a Visa credit or Visa Electron card. “With more hotel and destination options than ever before, the Hilton promotion gives Middle East travelers the chance to explore new regions and get a week’s holiday overseas while only paying for five nights,” said Guy Epsom, regional sales and marketing director, Hilton International, Arabian Peninsula.
Madinat Jumeirah Set to Open in Summer
DUBAI, 19 June 2004 — Jumeirah International’s latest resort development Madinat Jumeirah, the Arabian Resort-Dubai, is set to open this summer, following the successful premier of its gateway property, Mina A’Salam, in September of last year. “The new property will provide guests with an authentic Arabian experience that is the most unique in the world,” resort general manager Serge Zaalof said. The resort will feature grand boutique hotels, 29 traditional courtyard summerhouses, conference and banqueting facilities, a 1,000-seat amphitheater and the region’s only dedicated entertainment center and multipurpose venue, Madinat Arena. The resort provides extensive leisure and health facilities, including the Six Senses Spa, offering European and Asian therapies, as well as a traditional Souk Madinat showcasing Arabian retail and dining experiences. Set alongside 1 km of private beach, Madinat Jumeirah is an “authentic recreation of ancient Arabia capturing the natural beauty of the region and its culture with luxury and style.” Al Qasr, which translates to “The Palace,” is the centerpiece of the resort designed to emulate a sheikh’s summer residence. Complete with a regally tree-lined avenue adorned with sculpted Arabian horses, this grand boutique hotel features world-class restaurants with enchanting terraces, stylish bars and lounges, and 292 rooms and suites, all with private balconies, designed and decorated in traditional Arabic style. Dar Al Masyaf, the traditional two-storied Arabian summerhouses, are located throughout the resort and connected by 3.5 km of waterways and paths through the lavishly landscaped gardens.
