They are interviewing at present for number of positions around the ME but have offered positions to people and then withdrawn them in a number of areas, some people having given up jobs. It is apparent the UK people have little intention of hiring others but happily sitting in the sun then paid trips home every three weeks.

Is Sama using an agency for recruiting or are they doing it themselves? And how secure is an invitation for an undated interview for pilots?

SAMA are riding on a kind of roller-coaster hoping they will get one of the 2 operators' licenses among 3 candidates. There is a UK based management company running the show but I think it's all too early since they had a serious setback in securing that license.
Sorry to hear many guys committed to SAMA and got left "stranded in the desert".

Fractional,

That doesnt sound very promising.... Can you elaborate?

Mutt

And their mailbox is full and rejecting mails.....very professional.

Sal-e

Welcome to the Middle East where the sands of time blow s.l.o.w.l.y...... Didnt you read the part about the GACA not issuing any AOC until the end of 2006, it doesnt seem logical that Sama will recruit crews until they are sure that they will be one of the AOC recipients.......

As for Al-Tayyar Air.... does this company actually exist or is if a figment of one gentlemans imagination?


Mutt

Agreed, Mutt. I don't understand the whining on this one. How, on the one hand, can there be claims of people being "stranded in the desert," and then complaints that recruitment hasn't been fast enough! Seems like Siddiqi & Sal-e need to wake up to the realities of this business, and the ME, and working with government agencies in a regulated market.

Sounds like a logical approach to me to put off the start dates until closer to license. From what I hear, there are a handful of cabin crew who have started and are doing office jobs until training starts. Hardly a crisis...

Mutt,
sorry about that, I didn't read about the AOC issue. That part of the world sounds a lot like mine (pacific). In that case, I have all the patience in the world.

I'm sorry Mutt. Quite busy these days and despite reading the forum missed your msg. I'll let you about that. They seemed a bit confused the last time I had the opportunity to get some news. Let's see...

Just some news
http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles.../10053366.html

As for the potential competitior Al Tayyar, this is where they're up to.
http://www.middle-east-online.com/English/?id=13672

Finally, NAS looks set to take out first place.
http://www.ameinfo.com/72294.html

Ummm..... always thought that news meant something "new".... those articles are from 2005......


Mutt

Woooops, copied the wrong one.... here's a better one.
http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1&sect...=26&m=4&y=2006

SAMA and Al Tayyar will be the lucky ones. I don't think NAS will get it since they are already operating VIP ad-hoc services and shortly regular ones.
Things may change... though.

That doesnt make sense

NAS are established with their fractional operation, their GACA-135 VIP Operation and their scheduled Premium service, however, rumor has it that they arent making money! I'm sure that Emaar expect a high return on their investment, hence their immense desire to obtain the low cost operators licence.

SAMA, they have at least employed people familiar with the low cost concept.

Al-Tayyar, still think this is a fantasy! Anyone who thinks that they can operate to the 26 kingdom airports with a Boeing/Airbus and make money is fooling himself!

Mutt

Mutt, sometimes things aren't so fluid as they are supposed to be. The reasoning may be that NAS has its cake slice and they have got to make it work. Their new internal all biz service may well work with smaller aircraft. Will it fill and so will it pay the flight?
Here is a piece of news indicating SAMA are getting ready for the "ticket".
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZA...ok031300060724

Hi there,

Good points you guys raise. However you overlook one thing. You can't rely on e-Booking or Telephone Booking in Saudi. This is Tayyar's trump card. They are the largest (so I've been told) travel agency in the country. Their large client base and nationwide retail network would be invaluable. My guess is that Tayyar and NAS will team up for the second licence.

Ok guys. According to the latest news clipping posted by fractional, Sama should have 7 B737s by Xmas and a start within "months". Talk about "vague"!!
Million dollar question. What date will the first revenue flight be? I'm not being impatient. It's just that the above info means to me anywhere between 2 months and 5 months. And if Saudi Arabia is anything like the pacific, it most likely means more.

According to GACA the licences will be issued by the end of December at the latest, but from past experiences with government licencing I don;t think they'll have them before February/March.

how do they propose to carry so many passengers according to the press in 2006 if the licence will not be granted until December ? fine if it is December 1 then they hopefully will carry some.

But as previous advised by others passenger booking is the main criteria and others have the edge on them there it is all well and good hiring "professionals" but remember things move in different ways in this part of the world, and they have a long way to go.

where are the aircraft now 7 or maybe it is less even though it is a big order for delivery this year to fly for maybe one month without losing major $$$, when they can be sure to lose like the others a fortune for first few years just operating domestic.

I would still tread very wary if you have something good already stay there

Do you really believe press releases???
Looking at this as an outsider but trying to be realistic. GACA have announced that they will issue the licence at the end of 2006, not sure if they actually means 01-1428. All of the competitors will have to show competence and the ability to operate routes profitably, but surely no one would expect them to start operations immediately! Especially as the Eid will be over and the next rush will be the summer holidays.
I’m interested to see how they can operate 7 aircraft, the route structure of Saudi is interesting, but very few of the routes actually operate full and those that do, have a massive number of free ticket holders onboard!

Mutt.