By Jean Christou
CYPRUS Airways (CY) yesterday signed a code-sharing pact with the world’s fourth biggest carrier, Northwest Airlines, aiming to link the US and the Middle East.
The deal signed in Nicosia takes tiny CY one step nearer becoming a member of Wings, one of the four global airline alliances, which includes the Continental Group, Dutch airline KLM and Italy’s Alitalia.
The group also includes Kenya Airways, KLM UK and Eurowings, and together operates a combined fleet of more than 1,000 aircraft carrying 165 million passengers between some 600 destinations.
The alliance is expected to be further strengthened by the announcement within weeks that KLM-Alitalia will become a joint venture operation by the end of the year.
“This means Northwest will be able to work through three European hubs, Amsterdam, Rome and Milan,” said KLM’s Jos Kamp, Director of Strategy and Commercial Cooperation.
The eight-year agreement between Northwest and CY will link Cyprus to US destinations while allowing the American airline access to CY’s extensive routes into the Middle East.
“This is not only an important day for Cyprus Airways but it is also an important one for Northwest Airlines as we now enter into this very extensive partnership with Cyprus Airways,” said Douglas Birdsall, senior vice president of alliances at Northwest.
“Despite being the fourth largest in the world, Northwest has heretofore not had a significant presence in the eastern Mediterranean. Our partnership with Cyprus Airways will provide us with more extensive travel opportunities to a major region in the world.”
Northwest has a fleet of 419 aircraft and operates more than 1,700 flights a day to 150 destinations, carrying some 50 million passengers and accruing revenues of $9 billion.
Northwest is the first American carrier that has chosen to have its code used on services to Cyprus.
CY has an extensive route network into the Middle East, despite its small fleet of 12 Airbuses. The fact that the fleet is also one of the youngest in the world was a determining factor for Northwest, Birdsall said.
The second phase of the deal allows for the addition of the CY code to Northwest operated services on the North Atlantic, which means CY will be shown as operating services to and form the USA in cooperation with Northwest.
“In the world of alliances no one partner can win unless all the partners can win,” Birdsall said.
The agreement also includes cooperation on promoting holiday packages in the US and Cyprus, a frequent flyer programme, common advertising and cargo handling.
“This agreement is a milestone for Cyprus Airways and marks a new era for the company,” said CY chairman Takis Kyriakides.
“In a rapidly changing international aviation environment airline alliances have a key role to play to the survival and growth of companies. Cyprus Airways could not remain a mere bystander to these developments.”
