Nile Air
Encyclopedia
Nile Air is an airline
with its head office in the Sheraton
Heliopolis
in Cairo
, Egypt
. Plans for the airline were announced in the 2007 Dubai Air Show.
The airline launched operations in August 2010, initially operating a short term wet lease
contract with Libyan Arab Airlines
and scheduled services were launched from Egypt
in March 2011.
The airline will receive the first of these 9 new planes in late 2012, however 2 leased Airbus
A320
s (from Aercap) arrived in July and November 2009 as an interim solution.
Al-Tayyar said the company would raise the bulk of the money for plane purchases through Islamic bank loans and that it has the backing of two financial institutions. Nile Air will be owned by Saudi Arabia's largest travel services firm, Al-Tayyar Travel Group.
Nile Air initially launched flights to Saudi Arabia
before beginning services to other Middle East & Gulf destinations. Dr. Nasser Al-Tayyar (Chairman of Al-Tayyar Travel Group and Founder of Nile Air) said that the airline also plans to sell 30% of its shares to the public in an initial public offering (IPO). "We will list the shares on the Cairo bourse in 2010/2011"
In January 2011, the airline became the first private Egyptian airline to publish its schedule and flight availability (with the launch of scheduled services to Iraq
) on the Global Distribution System (GDS), reflecting Al Haidar (CEO)'s distribution strategy that targets to sell 75% of bookings through the GDS.
The airline began operations in August 2010, operating on wet lease
from Libyan Arab Airlines
. Nile Air have launched its first scheduled services in March 2011 with the launch of flights to Saudi Arabia
.
Other destinations earmarked for future expansion will include Europe
and Middle East
.
Airline
An airline provides air transport services for traveling passengers and freight. Airlines lease or own their aircraft with which to supply these services and may form partnerships or alliances with other airlines for mutual benefit...
with its head office in the Sheraton
Sheraton Hotels and Resorts
Sheraton Hotels and Resorts is Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide's largest and second oldest brand . Starwood's headquarters are in White Plains, New York.-Sheraton history:...
Heliopolis
Heliopolis
-Placenames:*Heliopolis , the ancient city in Egypt*Heliopolis , a suburb in modern Cairo, Egypt* Heliopolis of Phoenicia, modern Baalbek, Lebanon...
in Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
, Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
. Plans for the airline were announced in the 2007 Dubai Air Show.
The airline launched operations in August 2010, initially operating a short term wet lease
Wet lease
Aircraft leases are a number of types of leases used by airlines and other aircraft operators. Airlines lease aircraft from other airlines or leasing companies for two main reasons; to operate aircraft without the financial burden of buying them, and to provide temporary increase in capacity...
contract with Libyan Arab Airlines
Libyan Arab Airlines
Libyan Airlines , known as Libyan Arab Airlines over several decades, is the national flag carrier airline of Libya. Based in Tripoli, it operates scheduled passenger and cargo services within Libya and to Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, the majority of which leave from Tripoli...
and scheduled services were launched from Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
in March 2011.
History
In the 2007 Dubai Air Show the privately owned carrier signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Airbus for 9 A321 aircraft. This order was firmed in January 2009. The Airbus order is said to be worth $792 million according to current list prices.The airline will receive the first of these 9 new planes in late 2012, however 2 leased Airbus
Airbus
Airbus SAS is an aircraft manufacturing subsidiary of EADS, a European aerospace company. Based in Blagnac, France, surburb of Toulouse, and with significant activity across Europe, the company produces around half of the world's jet airliners....
A320
Airbus A320
The Airbus A320 family is a family of short- to medium-range, narrow-body, commercial passenger jet airliners manufactured by Airbus Industrie.Airbus was originally a consortium of European aerospace companies, and is now fully owned by EADS. Airbus's name has been Airbus SAS since 2001...
s (from Aercap) arrived in July and November 2009 as an interim solution.
Al-Tayyar said the company would raise the bulk of the money for plane purchases through Islamic bank loans and that it has the backing of two financial institutions. Nile Air will be owned by Saudi Arabia's largest travel services firm, Al-Tayyar Travel Group.
Nile Air initially launched flights to Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
before beginning services to other Middle East & Gulf destinations. Dr. Nasser Al-Tayyar (Chairman of Al-Tayyar Travel Group and Founder of Nile Air) said that the airline also plans to sell 30% of its shares to the public in an initial public offering (IPO). "We will list the shares on the Cairo bourse in 2010/2011"
Operation
On 1 November 2009, the airline received its (AOC) by the Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority which permits the airline to launch operations.In January 2011, the airline became the first private Egyptian airline to publish its schedule and flight availability (with the launch of scheduled services to Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
) on the Global Distribution System (GDS), reflecting Al Haidar (CEO)'s distribution strategy that targets to sell 75% of bookings through the GDS.
The airline began operations in August 2010, operating on wet lease
Wet lease
Aircraft leases are a number of types of leases used by airlines and other aircraft operators. Airlines lease aircraft from other airlines or leasing companies for two main reasons; to operate aircraft without the financial burden of buying them, and to provide temporary increase in capacity...
from Libyan Arab Airlines
Libyan Arab Airlines
Libyan Airlines , known as Libyan Arab Airlines over several decades, is the national flag carrier airline of Libya. Based in Tripoli, it operates scheduled passenger and cargo services within Libya and to Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, the majority of which leave from Tripoli...
. Nile Air have launched its first scheduled services in March 2011 with the launch of flights to Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
.
Destinations
As of August 2011, Nile Air serves the following destinations with scheduled services:- Egypt
- CairoCairoCairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
- Cairo International AirportCairo International AirportCairo International Airport is the busiest airport in Egypt and the primary hub for Star Alliance member EgyptAir. The airport is located to the north-east of the city around from the business area of the city.The airport is administered by the Egyptian Holding Co... - AlexandriaAlexandriaAlexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
- Borg El Arab AirportBorg El Arab AirportAirlines and destinations will be completely updated upon the completion of the new terminal building by late 2011 and transfer of airlines from Alexandria International Airport.- See also :*Alexandria International Airport*Transportation in Alexandria...
- Cairo
- Saudi Arabia
- Yanbu - Yanbu Airport
- Qassim - Qassim Airport
- Ta'if - Ta’if Regional AirportTa’if Regional AirportTa’if Regional Airport is an airport in Ta’if, Saudi Arabia.-Airlines and destinations:...
- TabukTabukTabuk , also spelled Tabouk, is the capital city of the Tabuk province in north western Saudi Arabia. It has a population of 441,351 .-History:Around Tabuk, the Battle of Tabouk took place in the time of Islamic prophet Muhammad....
- Tabuk Regional AirportTabuk Regional AirportTabuk Regional Airport or King Faisal Airbase is a military and civilian airport in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.-Military use:The Royal Saudi Air Force keeps much of its F-15 fighter jets at Tabuk.-Airlines and destinations:-Accidents and incidents:... - JeddahJeddahJeddah, Jiddah, Jidda, or Jedda is a city located on the coast of the Red Sea and is the major urban center of western Saudi Arabia. It is the largest city in Makkah Province, the largest sea port on the Red Sea, and the second largest city in Saudi Arabia after the capital city, Riyadh. The...
- Jeddah Airport
Other destinations earmarked for future expansion will include Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
.
Fleet
The Nile Air fleet has an average age of 3 years and consists of the following aircraft (at July 2011):| Aircraft | In Service |
Orders (Options) |
Passengers (Business/Economy) |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbus A320-232 | 2 | 0 | 142 (16/126) | Leased from Aercap |
| Airbus A321-200 | 0 | 9 | TBA | Deliveries from 2012 |
| Total | 2 | 9 | Last updated: July 2011 |