Askari MasterCard and Aero Asia have carved a strategic alliance to offer exclusive services to their cardholders. To this effect a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) was signed at a local hotel on Wednesday.
Kalim-ur-Rehman, President and CEO of Askari Commercial Bank Limited and Abdul Rauf Tabani, Vice-Chairman, Aero Asia International, signed the MOU to facilitate the Askari MasterCard holders special services while travelling with Aero Asia.
The Askari MasterCard members will enjoy 10 percent discount in fare, convenience in tickets for flight upgrading, access to airport CIP lounges, carrying excess baggage up to 10 kg, limousine pick and drop service to/from airport for the Business class passengers of Aero Asia.
Kalim-ur-Rehman talked about the many 'Firsts' by Askari Bank that included Internet banking brought into service in the year 2000. The bank had also pioneered bank swaps in ATMs in collaboration with ABN Amro Bank.
Payment of utility bills through ATMs and the Internet was also the brainchild of the bank. He said that Askari MasterCard holder would be able to purchase a ticket through the bank's call centres. The tickets would be delivered at the passenger's doorsteps.
Abdul Rauf of Aero Asia said he was happy to create new avenues for all parties concerned. He said that it was Aero Asia's first such venture with a bank, and hoped that it would culminate in better services to the airline's passengers who carry Askari MasterCard. He pointed out the 'coincidence' that both Aero Asia and Askari Bank had started their journey in 1992.
Rauf said he prided in the fact that his airline was the only one in Pakistan to get ISO 9000 certification. He told the press that the airline was in the process of expansion and modernisation. The airline has a fleet of 9 aircraft, and 4 new ones would be inducted soon, he added. He said that induction of new Pakistani pilots was also on the cards.