Air Arabia, the first and the largest low-cost carrier (LCC) in the Middle East and North Africa, announced today the expansion of service to the Lebanese capital, Beirut, from the carrier’s primary hub in Sharjah, UAE, making it easier and more convenient for passengers to visit the capital city.

The low-cost pioneer currently offers nine weekly flights to Beirut. Starting May 1, 2013, the carrier will offer flights 14 times per week, departing Sharjah International Airport daily at 08:00 and 18:15. Return flights depart Beirut International Airport daily at 12:00 and 22:15 (local time).

“Beirut was among the first destinations we started serving when Air Arabia launched operations October 2003. Today’s announcement further underscores Air Arabia’s commitment to Lebanese market, and we are proud to see services increased to double daily, thus connecting our customers in UAE and Lebanon with a great frequency and un-beatable fares,” said Adel Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer, Air Arabia.

Since its launch, Air Arabia’s network has expanded to serve over 85 destinations from hubs in the UAE, Morocco and Egypt. The airline’s passenger traffic climbed over 13 per cent to serve 5.3 million passengers in 2012. In the same year, the airline reported an impressive seat load factor of 82 per cent, indicating the strong demand for Air Arabia’s value for money services.