Regional low-cost aviation sector enters second decade

Airline’s Group CEO seeks to operate services to all airports in the Arab world

Air Arabia, the first and largest low-cost carrier (LCC) in the Middle East and North Africa, today celebratesten years of successful operationswhich has revolutionised the air travel industry in the Arab world.As the first low-cost carrier in the region, the anniversary also marks the completion of a first decade of low-cost aviation in the Middle East and North Africa region.

Air Arabia has experienced massive, sustained growth since October 2003, when it introduced a new way of taking flight to the Arab world. From the earliest days of serving five destinations with just a pair aircraft, the airline has grown to operate 86destinations that spread across the Middle East and North Africa, Europe and Indian Subcontinent, served by 34 aircraft today.

To commemorate the occasion, Adel Ali, the airline’s Group Chief Executive Officer, addressed a media gathering in Dubai, where he highlightedthat Air Arabia, in its second decade, aims to continue leading the low cost travel segment in the MENA region, andenter new ventures andembark on further expansion to all airports in the Arab world.

Ali said: “By reducing the cost of air travel, and therefore revolutionising the air travel in the region, we have created opportunities for more people to travel in the past decade.Ten years ago, we couldn’t have anticipated how rapidly Air Arabia would grow, or how dramatically our pioneering low-cost model would change how, when and at what price people would travel here in the Arab world.”

“The past decade has been a remarkable journey for all of us at Air Arabia – including our employees and, of course, our loyal passengers,” Ali continued. “On behalf of everyone at Air Arabia, I thank Governments, Airports and Civil Aviation Authorities in the UAE and across our network for ten years of continuous support.”

Having now served over 37 million passengers – connecting themwith friends and families – Air Arabia is firmly established as one of the rare success stories in the region, and a strong participant in the region’s skies.The airline’s steady growth has always been driven by significant value to its loyal customer base, with its philosophy of offering value for money services and greater connectivity across its award-winning route network.

Ali concluded: “As we enter into the second decade, we will continue to work hard to become the most preferred airline serving all airports in the Arab world, stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to Indian Ocean,whilst focusing on providing efficiency and superior customer comfort.”

Air Arabia, the first publicly listed airline in the Arab world and the largest airline by market value, today serves 86 destinations from three operational hubs in the UAE, Morocco and Egypt. The carrier’s existing fleet consists of 34 aircraft with 10 additional aircraft planned to join the fleet in 2014.

As part of the anniversary celebrations, Air Arabia also unveiled a special Airbus A320 aircraft, featuring a unique 10-year livery to signify the carrier’s entry into its second decade. The commemorative aircraft will shuttle between the original launch destinations served by Air Arabia when it began operations in October 2003.