An offshoot of US aviation giant Boeing has bought a subsidiary of Royal Jordanian Airlines from the Jordanian government for $18 million, officials announced.
The cabinet approved the sale of Royal Jordanian's training center to Flight Safety Boeing Training International (FSBTI), which the head of Jordan's privatization authority Abel Qodah said runs 55 pilot training centers in nine countries.
Jordan hopes the US firm will turn the training post into "a regional center for pilot training," said Qodah, cited by the state news agency Petra. He said the government managed to raise FSBTI's offer, which was originally just over $15 million.
Of five Royal Jordanian departments that have been turned into joint-stock companies, the government in September sold a free zone to the Spanish company Al Deasa for $60 million.
Amman is trying to sell 49 percent of Royal Jordanian's shares to foreign investors or other partners, reserving the rest for Jordan's private sector.
The government held talks in September with British Airways consultants Speedwings, but no deal was reached.
Royal Jordanian, which serves 45 destinations, has a fleet made up only of Airbus models: nine A310s and three A320s, of which seven are chartered, along with two cargo planes.
FSBTI is owned jointly by US companies Boeing and Flight Safety International. — (AFP, Amman)
© Agence France Presse 2001
© 2001 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
