jetlanta From United States of America, joined Jul 2001, 2916 posts, RR: 28 Posted (2 years 6 months 1 week 23 hours ago) and read 3681 times:
This looks to be getting closer to a done deal. It's a pretty interesting development. So long as Emirates, Qatar and Etihad are shut out of the alliances, Saudia Arabian is a pretty big fish in the region.
Quote: The signing of a code share agreement between Saudi Arabian Airlines and Air France on the route between Saudi Arabia and France has opened the door to Saudia becoming a member of the Sky Team alliance. Airline industry sources expect Saudia to make an announcement about joining Sky Team as early as next month.
aflyingkiwi From New Zealand, joined Nov 2010, 490 posts, RR: 3 Reply 1, posted (2 years 6 months 1 week 22 hours ago) and read 3570 times:
Well it looks like Skyteam keeps wanting to add new carriers to their alliance. I would think that Gulf Air would be a more reputable carrier to add to the alliance but maybe they don't want to join an alliance like EK?
Hopefully Skyteam can add a carrier in the Oceania Region because that is one glaring hole in it's network.
HiJazzey From Saudi Arabia, joined Sep 2005, 788 posts, RR: 1 Reply 2, posted (2 years 6 months 1 week 22 hours ago) and read 3536 times:
Yes, things are moving. I have heard talk of an announcement in January. One even mentioned an exact date (11/1/2011).
I don't think SV will become members that quickly but I can see them getting formally invited. Active membership IMO is 2 years away.
Cyba From Liberia, joined Nov 2005, 199 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (2 years 6 months 1 week 19 hours ago) and read 3334 times:
Quoting mozart (Reply 3): Do people believe that RUH and/or JED will actually be used as big transfer hubs by Skyteam alliance passengers?
Not until the KSA authorities stop treating passengers with suspicion and requiring them to prove that there was absolutely no way they could fly to their destination other than via Saudi. Oh and lets forget women travelling on their own!
This is more of a flag-planting exercise than a network-enhancing one.
HECA From Netherlands, joined Apr 2007, 223 posts, RR: 1 Reply 5, posted (2 years 6 months 1 week 17 hours ago) and read 3187 times:
Quoting Cyba (Reply 4): Not until the KSA authorities stop treating passengers with suspicion and requiring them to prove that there was absolutely no way they could fly to their destination other than via Saudi. Oh and lets forget women travelling on their own!
This is more of a flag-planting exercise than a network-enhancing one.
Think of all the pilgrims and expat workers that will fly with SV and SkyTeam partners to/from the Kingdom... So no, RUH and JED will not become like DXB, AUH or DOH but end-destinations. And SV is a wealthy airline.
directorguy From Egypt, joined Jul 2008, 1569 posts, RR: 11 Reply 6, posted (2 years 6 months 1 week 16 hours ago) and read 3135 times:
Do any of the Saudi users have any idea what the up-to-date requirements are for travellers transiting through the Kingdom? I've heard so many conflicting rumours that suggests that it's not a fool-proof system.
BAH/AUH/DXB/DOH/KWI/AMM/CAI/MCT all allow passengers, irregardless of nationality, to change planes without holding any type of visa.
The official Saudi Arabian position on transiting passengers is:
TWOV (Transit Without Visa):
Visa required, except for Visa not required for those
continuing to a third country, provided:
- continuing by the same or first connecting aircraft within
18 hours; and
- holding confirmed onward tickets; and
- all documents required for their the next destination.
Only one stop-over in Saudi Arabia is permitted, except when
flying on Saudi Arabian Airlines, where a second transit point
is permitted
Now-what I've heard is that Saudi Arabian immigration authorities still do not always implement this all the time, or only do so outside the Hajj period, and require extra clearance from single female travellers. And then, I've heard stories of people changing planes in Saudi without any issues. Whatr's obvious is that they need to come up with a single unified policy regarding transiting that is fully accessible to the travelling public.
AirNZ From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 10, posted (2 years 6 months 1 week 13 hours ago) and read 2860 times:
Quoting babybus (Reply 7): Does joining a western alliance
What makes either Skyteam, Star or One World specifically 'western'??????
Quoting jetlanta (Thread starter): So long as Emirates, Qatar and Etihad are shut out of the alliances, Saudia Arabian is a pretty big fish in the region.
I don't quite understand your meaning. Since when are they "shut out" of the alliances?
Cyba From Liberia, joined Nov 2005, 199 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (2 years 6 months 6 days 21 hours ago) and read 2462 times:
Quoting HiJazzey (Reply 9): You don't need a visa to transit.
Maybe not, but it's not exactly the smoothest, or most pleasurable experience either, is it? I wouldn't not be advising my sisters for instance to consider it as an option.
The last time I flew SV I got shouted at for speaking to the female air hostess in the galley. Apparently that's NOT allowed. You won't be finding me near an SV plane anytime soon
mdavies06 From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2009, 337 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (2 years 6 months 6 days 19 hours ago) and read 2344 times:
Quoting AirNZ (Reply 10): Quoting jetlanta (Thread starter):
So long as Emirates, Qatar and Etihad are shut out of the alliances, Saudia Arabian is a pretty big fish in the region.
I don't quite understand your meaning. Since when are they "shut out" of the alliances?
QR EY and EK are probably shut out, there is an article in flightglobal in Oct/Nov 2010 featuring leading figures of all 3 alliances in the same interview. They confirmed this in their own words that they do not favour mainly 5th freedom pax poaching carriers.
AirNZ From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 14, posted (2 years 6 months 6 days 15 hours ago) and read 2198 times:
Quoting mdavies06 (Reply 13): QR EY and EK are probably shut out, there is an article in flightglobal in Oct/Nov 2010 featuring leading figures of all 3 alliances in the same interview. They confirmed this in their own words that they do not favour mainly 5th freedom pax poaching carriers.
Thanks for that info, but are you then saying that based upon a interview in one magazine, it is correct to state that they definitively "shut out" as claimed in the original post? Definitive and probably are two very different things indeed.
jetlanta From United States of America, joined Jul 2001, 2916 posts, RR: 28 Reply 15, posted (2 years 6 months 6 days 14 hours ago) and read 2133 times:
Quoting AirNZ (Reply 14): Thanks for that info, but are you then saying that based upon a interview in one magazine, it is correct to state that they definitively "shut out" as claimed in the original post? Definitive and probably are two very different things indeed.
The big European carriers are practically at war with these guys. It doesn't take much in the way of paying attention to see that. There is nothing "definitive" in this business, but the fact that none of the three are in a global alliance today, when virtually all of the world's major airlines are, is very telling.
A few examples of some recent news regarding the UAE, Air Canada and Lufthansa is representative of the issues:
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