Algiers - APS
A memorandum of Understanding was inked in Algiers between Air Algérie and six other Arab airlines on cooperation in the field of aeronautic maintenance, announced Tuesday General Secretary of the the Arab Air Carriers Organization (AACO), Abdelouahab Toufaha. \"Airlines of Algeria, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and UAE and that of Middle East (MEA) signed a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the field of aircraft maintenance,\" he said to the press at the end of the 45 AACO General Assembly proceedings. The memorandum will allow signatory companies to exchange spare parts, gradually to make bulk purchasing of spare parts and create specialized maintenance bases. Regarding the work of the 45th General Assembly of the AACO, Toufaha said they focused on issues relating to the internal organization of the union, the environment and the carbon tax imposed by European Union, as well as those relating to relations between the Arab and European airlines. Concerning the activities of the organization, he noted that the company revenues recorded an increase of 14.3% in 2011. The number of passengers transported by these companies has also increased by 4.6% during the same year, i.e. 125 million people.