CUSTOMERS of the Bank of Cyprus and Cyprus Airways will be treated to a new credit card that is set to provide more free trips abroad through a points accumulation system.
Three leading businesses in their respective fields, the Bank of Cyprus, Cyprus Airways and American Express, yesterday announced their co-operation through the launch of the new SunMiles American Express credit card.
The new credit cards are designed to upgrade the existing services that the SunMiles Visa offers.
Charis Pistos, Manager of the Bank of Cyprus Credit Card Centre, explained the thinking behind the new scheme.
“The experience and know-how as well as many years of market research in motives given to credit card users all lead to a clear result. This is that the best reward for a credit card holder is a trip abroad. SunMiles American Express provides many such trips,” he told reporters during yesterday’s press conference.
Apart from offering the services that the existing card does, Pistos gave details of the additional privileges that the new card will provide customers.
“Customers will get SunMiles points every time they use the card as well as when they pay for their air ticket with Cyprus Airways. Customers will also enjoy discounts in the Sunjet Executive Class, discounts for the in-flight duty free, free travel insurance as well as discounts in the hundreds of businesses of the Selects Plan,” he added.
American Express is the 14th largest brand worldwide – based on reputation – and is worth some $20 billion.
American Express Airline Cobrands Vice President, Tamer Elemary, expressed his delight at the new partnership.
“We have been in co-operation with the Bank of Cyprus, who is the sole issuer of American Express cards in Cyprus, for a number of years and we are looking forward to embarking on a new chapter with Cyprus Airways. As a company we look to form links with businesses that share the same core values as American Express, those being trust, integrity and customer service,” he said.
The SunMiles Visa was launched back in 2001 in an agreement signed between the Bank of Cyprus and the national air-carrier. Cyprus Airways have declared themselves pleased with the success of the service and are expecting the new version to be welcomed by the public.
“We are delighted to welcome American Express into the successful partnership with the Bank of Cyprus. We are hoping for a harmonious co-operation and are sure that the replacement of the existing SunMiles card as SunMiles American Express will be widely accepted by our customers,” General Manager of Cyprus Airways Christos Kyriakides said yesterday.
The SunMiles American Express card will be available around the middle of July with the Bank of Cyprus vowing to replace the SunMiles Visa once it expires, without the card holder having to intervene.
