Aito is aiming to entice Middle Eastern carriers into a new airline section of the organisation to provide seat allocations for members.

Air Berlin was the first carrier to join Aito last year and is providing allocations mainly for specialist operators to Germany.

Aito chairman Derek Moore said the operators’ association wanted to expand the section by encouraging long and short-haul carriers to join, particularly those with a hub network.

Airlines would benefit by filling extra seats from members who would be interested in taking small allocations, he said.

They would also be able to attend all Aito events to make members aware of their product.

“We want to get more airlines involved, whether they be short or long-haul. Carriers that might be interested would be multi-destination carriers, so the Middle East carriers who fly to Asia and Africa would be a good fit,” said Moore.

He added that members were still feeling the loss of GB Airways, which sold 80% of its seats through tour operators, and were looking for allocations on new carriers.

Air Berlin country manager Titus Johnson said joining Aito had given the carrier an extra revenue stream of tour operator allocations.

Kirker Holidays was one of the Aito members that took allocations to Berlin and Munich.

“Membership has given us access to good-quality operators interested in niche destinations, like Nuremberg, Dusseldorf and Hanover,” he said.

• Aito unveils '100% protection' logo (6 Jan 2009)