STA Travel’s agreements with a large number of the world’s well-known airlines, hotel and adventure tour operators is expected to ensure greater options for travelers in the region.

Roland Bunge, general manager, commercial for Kanoo Travel, said, “We know that our Kanoo Travel offices in the region are already excited about this new venture and we are looking forward to providing a great service and value adds to the student and youth travel segment in the Middle East.”

Mark Moss, general manager global partners for STA Travel, described Kanoo Travel as the market leader in the Middle East and said: “We are very excited about this new partnership which we are confident will be a great success, delivering new products and travel opportunities to students and young people in the region.”

The Kanoo family’s involvement in air travel goes back to 1937 when the company provided refueling facilities in Bahrain for Imperial Airways seaplanes on route to India and Australia. In 1947 Kanoo Travel became the first IATA agency in the Gulf and in 1997 they became the very first travel company in the Middle East to receive the ISO certification.

Kanoo Travel is currently the largest travel company in the Middle East, with a team of travel specialists operating a network of over 170 offices in the region and through a global network of world-class travel partners.