Originally Posted by
ByrdluvsAWACO
RAM is ok, but they share the same geographic disadvantage as Tunisair. Being so close to MAD puts them in competition with IB on many routes.
Which routes? IB has very few routes to Africa. The only ones I would imagine there would be competition with RAM would be DKR, LOS and SSG. (Admittedly, there would be competion on routes to Morocco itself but I would imagine that IB would in fact benefit from increased traffic on its Moroccan routes if RAM was in OW)
RAM doesn't even fly to JNB. In this case, an improved Arik would provide more value in covering Nigeria and West Africa.
For Nigeria itself, Arik certainly wins. But for the rest of West Africa, RAM is infinitely better: Arik only serves 6 non-domestic destinations in West Africa (ACC,COO,ROB, FNA, BJL, DKR). By comparison, RAM serves 20 (NKC, DKR, BKO, CKY, ACC, NIM, OUA, ABJ, DLA, LBV, BZV, SSG, BJL, NSI, LOS, BGF, PNR,FNA, ROB, FIH).
In addition, RAM serves 8 destinations in North Africa and the Middle East (ALG, TUN, TIP, CAI, BEY, JED, RUH, AUH). Arik serves none.
Arik serves one destination in Europe (LON). RAM serves over 20.
Arik serves one destination in North America (NYC). RAM serves 2 (NYC and YUL).
It is true that RAM has no flights at all to Southern Africa whereas Arik serves JNB. IMO, this would be an easier gap to plug than compensating for the extremely limited international network of Arik.
In addition, OW should seriously look at TAAG Angola. It looks as though they are buying new 777's and have resolved their safety issues with the IATA and EU.
Have they? I thought that they were still on the banned EU list (except for 3 B777s and 4 B737s).