Africa/Middle East: February 2006 Archives

Sama may not be the first low-cost carrier start-up in the Middle East - that distinction goes to Sharjah-based Air Arabia - but it certainly appears to have the loftiest ambitions. As the proposed Saudi Arabian entrant said on its brand launch on 5 February: "Our objective is simple: To be the preferred and most successful low fares airline in the Middle East."

The carrier, which has the approval of the Saudi government, has backing from 30 Saudi private and institutional investors. It is being headed up by a management team consisting of former executives from UK low-cost carriers easyJet and go.

Sama aims to begin services by the middle of this year using leased Boeing 737-300s to bring the low-cost revolution to Saudi for the first time. Initially it will serve domestic destinations, expanding to other states in the region over time.

The word Sama in Arabic is a verb, says the carrier, with a number of meanings: to rise (high), tower up, go up, to be or become elevated, high, exalted or sublime. The brand image is a modern white and blue geometric design, with echoes of that of US low-fares carrier Spirit Airlines.

To keep abreast of Sama's development, and to find out where it will be flying, visit its website.

The 10m long steel scaffold pole swings precariously close to the transfer bus door as the ex-patriate Indian worker, clad in full-face scarf to ward off the swirling dust, heaves it up to a colleague on the next level. Work is in full swing in and around the daily operations during a busy peak at Doha's international airport.

Workers crawl all over the modestly sized terminal and apron to expand the Qatari capital's airport capacity in advance of a bright, shiny new model (see artist's impressions above and below) scheduled to open in 2009. It is urgently needed. The small Gulf state's flag carrier Qatar Airways is out-growing its home base. In fact it has virtually out-grown it already, and is already capacity constrained at peak times.

So, even though the new airport complex is within sight, some $300 million is being spent at the current one to cope with the ambitions of Qatar Airways. This interim measure will expand the apron and terminal and include the fast-track construction of a dedicated first and business class terminal to open in the third quarter. It is badly needed: the airport's lounges were bursting at the seams during a recent visit.

The new airport will be impressive, and a testament to the aspirations of this gas-rich state to develop a flourishing economy and tourist trade. In fact, so fast is the growth of Qatar Airways that the airport's planned second phase has already been approved. This will boost its capacity from 12 million passengers annually to double that number.

In common with near-neighbours Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Qatar is pouring concrete like mad to meet anticipated demand. It is an amazing story that needs to be seen at first hand to appreciate the scale and speed of progress.

And although for many the only sight of Qatar is in a brief glimpse as they transfer to an airport bound for Bangkok, Berlin or another such destination, more are making a stopover. That is why in January and early February alone Qatar hosted a professional cycle tour event, a round of the European golf tour and a charity concert given by rock star Bryan Adams.

More is in the calendar before the big one: The 2006 Asian Games, which arrives in Doha in December. For most Qatar may still be an alien destination, but within five years I predict many of us will have witnessed its progress at first hand.