In response to the growing travel market within the UAE, Air Arabia LLC - UAE’s national airline and first low-cost airline of its kind in the Middle East & North Africa region – opened its first travel shop in Abu Dhabi Sunday.
Working with their General Sales Agent (GSA) in Abu Dhabi, Advanced Group of Companies, the Air Arabia branded travel shop will exclusively cater to the needs of Air Arabia’s customers - whether they are the direct customer or the travel agent. Offering only Air Arabia destinations and packages, this shop is the first of many to open within the Emirate and surrounding region.
“As the capital of the UAE and its commercial centre, Abu Dhabi is an important market for us,” said Sheikh Abdullah Bin Moh’d Al-Thani, Air Arabia’s Chairman. He added: “We want to ensure that we give our customers the service that they require – we believe that the opening of Air Arabia’s own travel shops will enable us to do this better.”
Recently completing its first 6 months at the end of April and participating in its first Arabian Travel Market earlier this month, Air Arabia has carried over 180,000 passengers to countries within the region and neighbouring countries to date. Finding its niche in a region that did not previously offer the concept of low-cost travel, Air Arabia has found its niche in all types of travelers – whether it is for business or leisure – without sacrificing on service and safety. The airline has enabled people that were not able to afford air travel, the opportunity to do so and encouraged those that travel already to do so more often.
“This is an exciting partnership for us,” said Abdullah Al Masaood, Chairman of the Advanced Group of Companies – Air Arabia’s GSA, adding “Air Arabia is a pioneer in this region - much like the Advanced Group of Companies - and we are glad to partner such a brand that benefits the people of our region and opens the opportunity of air travel to them.”
In addition to Dubai and Al Ain, Air Arabia will soon be extending their new coach service to Abu Dhabi to allow passengers the convenience of stepping off the aircraft into an air conditioned coach that will take them to their home city at a reasonable cost and vice versa to Sharjah International Airport for their flight. In-flight duty free purchases and soon a complimentary in-flight entertainment system, not only compliment this unique airline, but offer their customers added value over and above guaranteed 20-50% lower fares.
Air Arabia’s CEO, Adel Ali added: “The next few months will see Air Arabia offering increased destinations as well as an additional aircraft before the end of the year – expanding our fleet to four Airbus A320 aircraft. The preferred choice in the single-aisle market, the A320 is known for its wide seats, aisles and increased cabin storage, as well as its technological innovation that brings enhanced performance and reliability; Air Arabia’s customers ultimately benefit from these returns with unmatched cabin comfort and economics.”
Air Arabia is a Sharjah government-owned airline which is currently flying from Sharjah to Bahrain daily, Beirut daily, Damascus five days a week, Kuwait four days a week, Muscat six days a week, Alexandria five days a week, Assiut two days a week, Aleppo two days a week, Doha five days a week, Khartoum twice a week and Colombo four days a week. (menareport.com)
© 2004 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
