Arabesk (airline alliance)
Former unofficial and non-binding airline alliance
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Arabesk Network Cooperation Project was a "network alignment project", an unofficial and non-binding airline alliance, comprising members of Arab Air Carriers' Organization (AACO).
| Type | Network alignment project |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aviation |
| Founded | 2006 |
This network alignment group was founded in 2006, after a year of preparation with technical assistance from Sabre Airline Solutions, by the following airlines:[1]
| Airline | Notes |
|---|---|
 EgyptAir |
A Star Alliance member |
 Etihad Airways |
|
 Gulf Air |
|
 Middle East Airlines |
A SkyTeam member |
 Royal Jordanian |
A oneworld member |
 Saudia |
A SkyTeam member |
 Syrian Air |
|
 Tunisair |
|
 Yemenia |
In 2007, Etihad Airways and Syrian Air joined the alliance.[2]
The project aimed to boost market share and coordinate schedules, reduce duplication on routes and link the destinations network of its members, which stretched from North America to East Asia.[3] At that time, Arab airline operators were generally not included in the major airline alliances, partly because of their relatively small market share.[4]
As well as coordinating schedules, the Arabesk carriers consolidated joint fuel purchasing under the AACO umbrella, and other supplies.[4] Abdul Wahab Teffaha, Secretary General of AACO, explained, “This is not an airline alliance, but a unique grouping of carriers from a single region designed to help members realise better commercial potential, through schedule coordination.”[5]
The project continued until the end of the decade.[6]
