”Qatar Airways and Gulf Air launch in Saudi Arabia with a large fleet

”Qatar Airways” and ”Gulf Air“ Launch Operations in the Kingdom with a Huge Fleet
Riyadh—Follow-up
The two new airlines, ”Gulf Air” and “Qatar Airways,” are preparing to launch operations in Saudi Arabia in a big way by the end of the first half of 2014, to transport passengers to domestic and international destinations at a time when citizens are eagerly awaiting the start of actual operations, which will propel the Kingdom’s aviation sector into a historic phase. The two companies will assist Saudi Arabian Airlines in meeting the growing demand for seats, given the size of the Saudi market, which represents fourtimes the capacity of the national carrier.
Reports indicate that Qatar Airways will enter the Saudi market with a strong presence under the name “Al Maha,” starting with major cities in the Kingdom, including Riyadh and Jeddah, before moving on to smaller cities.
Qatar Airways, which began operations in 1997, has managed in a short time to grow and expand its global route network, qualifying it to earn the title of “World’s Best Airline.” During the SkyTrax Awards ceremonies in Tracks Awards in 2011 and 2012, based on votes cast by travelers worldwide in the organization’s latest survey.
Meanwhile, its route network has expanded at an unprecedented annual rate of 30%, it now operates one of the most modern fleets in the skies, flying to more than 125 destinations in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia-Pacific region, and North and South America. The airline owns more than 120 modern aircraft and recently placed an order 50 new Boeing 777s in a deal worth $19 billion.
Gulf Air, on the other hand, began operations in 1950 and is wholly owned by the Kingdom of Bahrain. Initially, it was jointly owned by the governments of Bahrain, the Sultanate of Oman, the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, and Qatar, These countries withdrew one by one until Gulf Air became the official national carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain in 2006. It currently serves more than 30 destinations across various continents and countries around the world and owns a fleet of 34 aircraft, with another59 aircraft of various types, ranging from the ”Embraer 190” to various models of the ”Airbus A“ series and, finally, the ”Boeing.”
Fuel prices are a major concern and obstacle for ”Gulf Air” and ”Qatar Airways” due to their high cost compared to other international airports, in addition to the fact that the local carrier, “Saudi Arabian Airlines” receives discounted fuel prices compared to foreign airlines, which are calling for such measures to create a competitive environment that encourages all companies—a goal the Civil Aviation Authority is pursuing in its efforts with Aramco.