Yemenia fleet expansion and modernization discussed [Archives:2006/925/Local News]
SANA'A, Feb. 28 ) Yemenia held its annual meeting Sunday, Feb. 26 in Aden along with its Saudi partners to discuss prospects for the two parties' activities to modernize and expand the fleet to meet agents' needs. Yemen owns 51 percent of shares, while the Saudis own 49 percent. The meeting also tackled the issue of facing international competition and the general budget, as well as other technical, marketing and economic matters.
In a press release, Yemenia Chairman Captain Abdulkhaliq Al-Qadhi said the meeting covered the company's future plans for the next five years. He said it submitted an offer to Airbus and Boeing to buy planes that will join the fleet in the next five years. Al-Qadhi added that his company competes with other regional airlines by providing modern planes with high technological abilities.
He added that the meeting is considered a periodic one, revising the previous meeting's decisions. Yet decisive measures were taken at this meeting that will determine Yemenia's future for the next five years through providing the new planes, which will be announced within the next two days.
He mentioned that the number of confirmed planes is six; however, another four are optional. The planes will be received in 2012, when it hopes to replace the current planes by then. Al-Qadhi confirmed that the new planes will give Yemenia a strong push amidst regional competition; however, they also will make a qualitative trend in economic operations. He noted that Yemenia will be the first company to possess such planes.
Al-Qadhi also pointed out that Yemenia has plans to promote its domestic flights, as discussed with the board of directors. A direction was issued to finish a study concerning the domestic carrier with a consideration about whether it should be a subsidiary of Yemenia or whether Yemenia will be a shareholder in it. The study will last six months, after which the project mechanism will be implemented.
Yemenia general manager and delegated member Hani Mansour confirmed that the meeting between the Yemeni and Saudi sides aimed to promote the two parties' partnership, noting that the partnership has prevailed for nearly 25 years. He praised the company's pioneering role in sales, booking and expanding domestic and international flights, highlighting the distinctive position the company occupies among regional airlines.
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