Saudi cities are among carrier's most popular routes with average load factors approaching 90 per cent
Sharjah, August 26, 2008: Air Arabia, the first and largest low-cost carrier (LCC) in the Middle East and North Africa, announced today that, effective September 16, it will fly daily to Riyadh and Jeddah from the carrier's primary hub in Sharjah, UAE.
Currently, Air Arabia flies six times a week to Riyadh and four times to Jeddah. Under the expanded flight schedule, daily flights will depart Sharjah at 17:20PM and arrive in Riyadh at 18:00PM. Daily return flights will depart Riyadh at 18:40PM and arrive in Sharjah at 21:20PM.
On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays flights will depart Sharjah at 8:30AM and arrive in Jeddah at 10:00AM. On the same days, return flights will depart Jeddah at 11:00AM and arrive in Sharjah at 14:40PM. On Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays flights will depart Sharjah at 13:05PM and arrive in Jeddah at 14:50PM. On the same days, return flights will depart Jeddah at 15:35PM and arrive in Sharjah at 19:15PM.
The first six months of 2008 saw an extremely impressive average load factor of 89 and 87 per cent for the Riyadh and Jeddah routes respectively, demonstrating the carrier's status as the LCC of choice for travellers to the Kingdom.
"The popularity of Air Arabia's service to Riyadh and Jeddah, the political and commercial capitals of Saudi Arabia, is reflective of Saudi Arabia's rapid economic growth," said AK Nizar, Head of Commercial Department, Air Arabia.
Air Arabia started flying to Jeddah and Riyadh in June 2004. The airline currently serves the Saudi markets with flights to three destinations: Jeddah, Riyadh and Dammam, and offers popular connectivity from the Kingdom to 11 destinations in India via its Sharjah hub.
The Sharjah-based carrier introduced four new destinations in the first six months of this year, including Kozhikode and New Delhi, India; Shiraz, Iran; and Dhaka, Bangladesh. This increases Air Arabia's total network to 41 destinations across the wider region.
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About Air Arabia:
Air Arabia (PJSC), listed on the Dubai Financial Market, is the Middle East and North Africa's leading low-cost carrier (LCC). Air Arabia commenced operations in October 2003 and 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 itsmain hub in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
Air Arabia is modeled after leading American and European low-cost airlines, and its business model is customised to accommodate local preferences. Its main focus is to make air travel more convenient through Internet bookings and offering the lowest fares in the market along with the highest levels of safety and service standards. For further information, please visit: www.airarabia.com
For further information, please contact:
Housam Raydan
Corporate Communications Manager
Air Arabia PJSC
Sharjah, UAE
Tel: 971-6-5088968
Fax: 971-6-5580031
E-mail: hraydan@airarabia.com
Ghaleb Zeidan
ASDA'A Public Relations
Dubai, UAE
Tel: 971-4-3355969
Fax: 971-4-3356080
E-mail: g.zeidan@asdaa.com
© Press Release 2008
