Air Arabia flies 10 million-plus passengers

Air Arabia, the first and largest low-cost carrier in the Middle East and North Africa, has flown more than 10 million passengers since its launch in October 2003.  Air Arabia, which went past the unique landmark this June, had ferried more than 1.6 million passengers in the first half of 2008. Significantly this showed an increase of 33 per cent compared to 1.2 million passengers in the corresponding period last year.

The airline, which began operations in October 2003, currently operates a fleet of 15 new Airbus A320 aircraft, serving 41 destinations across the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia and Central Asia through its main hub in Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates.  The no-frills airline, which is the largest in that category in the region it operates, had introduced four new destinations in the first six months of this year, including to Kozhikode and New Delhi in India; Shiraz in Iran; and Dhaka in Bangladesh.

This had increased Air Arabia’s total network to 41 destinations across the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia and Central Asia. The airline company had also bought three new aircraft during the first half of this year and increased frequencies to its existing destinations

The airline, based in Sharjah, is now glad that 10 million passengers had chosen as their means of travel . The company sees this as an endorsement of its offer of affordable air travel solutions, without compromising on safety, reliability and good service standards. . The airline now looks at expanding to more horizons.

Air Arabia is mulling over growing its list of destinations and also its fleet in the coming days. An Air Arabia news source has said that it is now looking at another 10 million passenger mark in a very short time.