JEDDAH, 8 February 2004 — Gulf Air has promoted Hamza Mohammed Sharif as its general manager for Saudi Arabia. Sharif, who was manager for the Kingdom, is the vice chairman of the Board of Airline Representatives of Saudi Arabia and the airlines’ Yield Improvement Committee. His Kingdomwide team includes area managers Nasir Jamal Khan and K. Prasad based in Riyadh and Dammam respectively, and district sales managers Syed Shehabuddin and Naser Karukapadath based in Jeddah and Riyadh respectively. The Bahrain-based airline, which operates daily flights to the Kingdom, received one of the best possible indicators that it was on the road to recovery with the revelation that more than six million revenue passengers had flown with it in 2003. This was its highest number carried in a single financial year. The figures revealed that over half a million more passengers flew with Gulf Air compared to 2002, an increase of more than 10 percent, while the six million figure showed nearly two million increase over 10 years ago. The region’s pan Gulf carrier, founded in 1950 and owned by Bahrain, Oman and the UAE, also announced two senior appointments in its PR department at the beginning of the second year of its ambitious turnaround program -- Sadek Karam as the head of corporate affairs and Hisham Abu Al-Fateh manager PR. The airline’s passengers in the UAE need make a single, toll free call on 800-2200 to have any aspect of their travel requirements or arrangements addressed by a team of trained, multilingual, customer service consultants.
Le Jeddah Meridien’s Training Program
JEDDAH, 8 February 2004 — Le Jeddah Meridien Hotel has appointed Nazeeh Raddah Al-Mowallad, a Saudi national, as its second management trainee. Nazeeh will undergo extensive and in-depth functional training over a three-year period, according to Dietmar Kielnhofer, general manager at the 284-room hotel. Aside from front office, reservation and revenue management, Nazeeh will undergo training in sales and marketing, human resource and quality management, accounting and finance, operational and production management, and engineering operations. “After he successfully completes the program that is equivalent to a hotel school education, Nazeeh will be offered a full-fledged department head’s position,” Kielnhofer said.
SIA Wins Passenger Service Award
JEDDAH, 8 February 2004 — Singapore Airlines (SIA) has won Air Transport World’s passenger service award for 2004. “In an age in which airlines are delivering less and less service, SIA never stops reaching for the skies. It’s always on the look out for new ways to satisfy its passengers,” the Washington headquartered monthly aviation magazine said. SIA will receive the award at the magazine’s awards night being held in Singapore on Feb. 23. The airline also received the best airline to Asia Pacific Rim award in the Irish Travel Trade News Awards. This is the 12th year in a row that SIA has won this award. The 32-year-old airline has been proactive in driving forward higher standards for in-flight entertainment systems and connectivity. The airline claims to have been the first to provide audio-video on demand, the first to bring DVD-quality movies onboard. It also is a leader in installation of onboard satellite phones and text messaging. It will take connectivity to a new level when, as part of its agreement to install the Connexion by Boeing system for high-speed Internet access by passengers, it brings up to 12 channels of live TV into the aircraft.
Alkhobar Hotel Launches New Facilities
ALKHOBAR, 8 February 2004 — New conference and banqueting facilities spread over an additional 650 sq. m. area has been newly inaugurated at Le Gulf Meridien Alkhobar. This extension of the Al Mawad Banquet rooms has further enhanced its flexible facilities. “The end result is that the property continues to offer rooms in the Eastern province suitable for weddings, conferences and meetings,” its General Manager Michael Nugent said. “No expense has been spared in the hotel’s decoration that includes the gleaming marble, chandeliers, Italian furniture, ornate wall fabrics and wood paneling, yet the needs of the business community have been kept in mind with an ambience conducive to doing business,” he added.
Swiss Mountain Hotel’s Offers
ZERMATT, Switzerland, 8 February 2004 — Middle East travelers looking for a last minute escape to the snow have the choice of a weeklong break offered at the Seiler Hotel Nicoletta in Zermatt, Switzerland. Competitively priced rooms that have a view of the Matterhorn are on offer for guests up to Feb. 14. The hotel has an in-house kids club. A weekly program featuring everything from sleigh rides to drawing and handicraft is available for children. The hotel is centrally located close to the main street that runs through Zermatt. Guests have free use of the hotel’s “Wellness zone” that features an indoor swimming pool, separate stream and sauna rooms for ladies.
Emirates Lands in West Africa
DUBAI, 8 February 2004 — Emirates, which has taken delivery of the first of eight Airbus A340-300 aircraft that are joining its fleet this year on key long-haul routes from Dubai, launched its services to West Africa recently. Its Airbus A330-200 aircraft arrived from Dubai to an official welcome at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in the Nigerian city of Lagos. The flight later flew on to the Ghanaian capital Accra to another official reception. The new route is Emirates’ latest addition to its fast-growing network. “Dubai is fast emerging as the new 21st century global airline hub, thanks in large part to our visionary government, and this move will help us meet rising demand for our service, as even the 71 aircraft we have ordered for delivery by 2012 are not sufficient,” Emirates Chairman Ahmed ibn Saeed Al-Maktoum said. The Dubai-based international airline operates services to 74 cities in 52 countries in Europe, North America (cargo only at present), Africa, Indian Subcontinent and Asia-Pacific, aside from the Middle East. Last year, it inaugurated services to Auckland, Moscow and Brisbane. It plans to start services to Vienna, Glasgow, Shanghai and New York later this year.
