www.bahrainthismonth.com business bites 24 March 2021 Gulf Air, the national carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain, and Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, have signed a Strategic Commercial Cooperation Agreement (SCCA). The SCCA envisages a phased approach to closer collaboration between the partners. In the first phase, by June 2021, the scope of the codeshare agreement, first signed in 2019, will be significantly expanded. Gulf Air and Etihad will be able to offer up to an additional 30 combined destinations across the Middle East, Africa, Europe and Asia. The airlines will work together to optimise joint operations on the Bahrain-Abu Dhabi route, with improvements to network connectivity. There will be additional offerings to premium tier customers of Falconflyer and Etihad Guest, including reciprocal lounge access at the hubs and enhanced recognition through a guest’s journey, regardless of the operating airline. The Strategic Commercial Cooperation Agreement was signed by Captain Waleed AlAlawi, Gulf Air’s Acting Chief Executive Officer and Tony Douglas, Group Chief Executive Officer, Etihad Aviation Group. Bahrain Islamic Bank (BisB) recently launched the ‘BisB Arcade Card’ - a brand new VISA prepaid card created with its gaming customers in mind. This marks the first of its kind offering in the Kingdom of Bahrain and GCC region, catered to customers’ lifestyle by rewarding gaming customers for every transaction conducted and purchases made at gaming stores and various other points of sale, for both PC and console games. “We are now in a new era of banking where we are creating solutions to cater to our customers daily lives, which are personalized and curated to how they lead their lives, instead of dictating how cards ought to be used,” said Hassan Jarrar, Chief Executive Officer of BisB. “The BisB Arcade Card will enable gamers to be rewarded on their gaming experience, giving them the opportunity to qualify in a quarterly draw and increase their chances of winning, but also earn reward points as part of the Bank’s Loyalty Program,” revealed Dalal Al Qais, Chief of Retail Banking at BisB. THE FIRST OF ITS KIND FLYING HIGH TALKING BUSINESS The Chairman and members of the Bahrain Bosnia and Herzegovina for Friendship and Business Society recently visited Gulf Air, the national carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain, to discuss potential business between the two entities in relation to enhancing joint cooperation. The society, headed by its Chairman, Jawad Al-Hawaj, shared the interest and plans with the airline’s executive management, headed by Acting CEO Captain Waleed AlAlawi. The discussion aims to solidify the tourism and economic relationship between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Federal Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the society discussed ways of possible collaboration to improve commercial, cultural and social ties in the near future. The meeting included a proposal submitted by the society to Gulf Air with a vision of launching a direct flight route between Manama and Sarajevo following the method of air charter service. The number of GCC tourists in recent years travelling to Bosnia and Herzegovina for leisure and medical tourism as well as real estate business has grown; the society believes a direct route between the two capitals will be successful in attracting seasonal charter travel. The Bahrain Bosnia and Herzegovina for Friendship and Business Society will continue to work closely with Gulf Air to establish business ventures between the two countries.
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