Kochi first stop on Jazeera Airways CEO network tour

A total of 13 flights a week on Jazeera Airways now operating from Delhi, Mumbai & Kochi

Kochi, April 24, 2007 -Chairman and CEO of Jazeera Airways, Middle East's first private airline, kicked off its new network tour today with the official launch of its Kochi-Dubai route, the airline's latest non-stop route from its new second hub in Dubai.  Jazeera Airways operated brand new Airbus A320s with all leather seats for this flight.

Jazeera Airways began flights from Kuwait to Indian cities last summer and has increased traffic between Kuwait and Kochi by 38%, Kuwait and Mumbai by 29%, and Kuwait and Delhi by 19%.  (2006 vs. 2005 statistics) 

Marwan Boodai, Chairman & CEO, Jazeera Airways said, "Our increasing investment in India comes from our commitment to connect the Gulf to the Sub Indian continent and to work with authorities to bring more tourist and business travelers to Kochi.

"India is very diverse and Kochi is breathtaking with its backwaters and unique culture, but that is not how people in the Gulf see Kochi and we are changing that by bridging the distance through our low fares the same way we stimulated traffic from Kuwait to Alexandria by 194%, Aleppo by 207%, and Damascus by 65%," said Boodai.

Presenting to the Kochi travel trade, Indian media, and Arab Media, Boodai also showcased Jazeera Airways' financial and operational since its first flight on October 30th 2005.

Boodai said, "We were able to stimulate traffic by introducing low fares for the first time on these routes and enabling our customers to be more in control of their booking experience through internet booking, seat selection at the time of booking, the opportunity to change a flight online, and even upgrade to our premium cabin during the flight.   All put together, we believe we introduced a new way to travel to Kochi and that has attracted new travelers."

PERFORMANCE

Jazeera Airways, which recently submitted its application on list on Kuwait Stock Exchange, announced last week its 2006 audited financial statements covering the airline's first complete financial year from January 1 to December 31, 2006.  Jazeera Airways reported revenues of USD 74.5 million with a profit of USD 8.7 million and earnings per share of US Cents 8.7.

Boodai said, "Our performance in 2006 has proved that our business model works.  We offered a hassle-free quality product that enabled travelers to be more in control of their travel plans. We refused to adopt predominant industry practices such as overbooking, requiring reconfirmations, or only offering seat assignments at check-in." 

"Instead we told our travelers that their paid seat is a guaranteed seat and they can pick their seat at the time they book, not just at the check-in, said Boodai."

Days

From

To

Departure

Arrival

Connects to

Tu, Fr, Sa

Kochi

Dubai

0345

0645

Kuwait, Bahrain, Muscat, Salalah

Mo, We, Sa

Delhi

Dubai

0535

0715

Kuwait, Bahrain, Muscat, Salalah

Tu, Th, Fr, Su

Mumbai

Dubai

0630

0810

Amman, Bahrain, Beirut, Damascus, Mashhad, Muscat Salalah

Mo, We, Sa

Mumbai

Kuwait

0615

0745


-Ends-

About Jazeera Airways K.S.C
Jazeera Airways is a Kuwait Public Shareholding Company established in 2004 (operated in 2005) with a capital of KD 10 million raised through one of the most successful IPOs in Kuwait's history, making it the only privately owned airline in the Middle East. Based on a low fare business model that maximizes across-the-board efficiency in operations, Jazeera Airways enables travelers to fly without a ticket and book through the web, giving travelers more independence, spontaneity, and fares up to 50% less than the market.

Jazeera Airways, which took its first flight on October 30, 2005, operates a fleet of new Airbus A320 aircraft from hubs Kuwait and Dubai. The airline serves some of the most popular destinations for both business and leisure in the Middle East, North Africa, and the Indian Subcontinent, including Dubai, Beirut, Bahrain, Damascus, Aleppo, Amman, Alexandria, Luxor, Mumbai, New Delhi, Mashhad, Assiut, Cochin, and Sharm El Sheikh, Salalah, Muscat, Tehran, Larnaca, and Shiraz.

Travelers are able to book via jazeeraairways.com or through travel agents to receive a booking reference number for easy, ticket-free check in.

For further information please contact: 
Fawaz Al-Sirri
Communications Manager
Jazeera Airways
Tel; +965 7187345
Email; Fawaz.alsirri@jazeeraairways.com

© Press Release 2007