Syrian Airlines achieved a 15% increase in its activity during the first nine months of 2005 compared to the equivalent period last year, reported Al-Sahrq al-Awsat newspaper on October 31.
The Company's general manager, Nachaat Numeir, said that the tourist season in the current year was "excellent," as the company's airplanes gained 95% occupancy rate, especially in regard to the Gulf States. Numeir expects the airline to transfer 1.4 million passengers by the end of the current year compared to 1.1 million passengers last year.
Syrian Airlines succeeded in its competition against other companies by offering cheaper prices and special offers during the tourist season, despite the increase in fuel costs, added Numeir. The company's Airbus airplanes operated 12 hours daily, a record number, which is close to the international one.
The company is in need to strengthen its fleet by new airplanes, thus it has recently issued an international tender for purchasing seven airplanes, he added. It has received a bid from Airbus for this tender and negotiations are currently held to finalize the contract. Syria is expected to purchase four airplanes with capacity of 200 seats and three bigger airplanes with capacity of 300 seats. The estimated value of this transaction, if materialized, is put at $600 million. The European Investment Bank will finance half of this sum through a special loan granted for this purpose.
Al-Namir added that the company is also inclined to lease several planes to support its fleet in periods of high demand.
