JEDDAH, 19 July 2003 — Saudi Arabian Airlines and Gulf Air have started their joint operations with the inaugural flight out of Dammam to the Nepalese capital, Katmandu. The code-sharing agreement follows a memorandum of understanding on marketing cooperation between the two airlines signed in Jeddah last month. The code-share agreement also covers the Dammam-Abu Dhabi and Riyadh-Muscat routes. “This flight marks a very significant step for us, and Gulf Air is honored to be selected as the first GCC carrier to be allowed to operate direct international flights out of an airport in Saudi Arabia,” said James Hogan. “We hope that this agreement will provide the basis for a long positive association, during which we can extend our co-operation to other commercial operations where bilateral agreements permit.” The twice-weekly flights out of Dammam through Abu Dhabi to Katmandu are operated by B767 using a single flight number under GF/SV call sign. Gulf Air and Saudi Arabian Airlines will also be able to sell through each of other reservation systems direct services in terms of the code share arrangement between Muscat and Riyadh and between Dammam and Abu Dhabi International Airports. This arrangement will also allow Saudi and Gulf Air customers direct access to those two Gulf cities and upgrade flight displays at both reservation systems, and passengers will be allowed to check all the way through along with baggage without changing the aircraft or breaking the journey to Katmandu. Gulf Air is the first Mideast airline to introduce self-service e-check in kiosks at airports in Bahrain, Abu Dhabi and Oman. (K.S. Ramkumar)
