air arabia named ‘low-cost carrier of the year’ at aviation business awards
• Adel Ali named ‘Airline CEO of the Year’ at same event
• Chief Executive lauded for management skills and innovative vision
• Carrier recognised for demonstrating world-class service across Middle East region
Air Arabia (PJSC), the first and largest low-cost carrier (LCC) in the Middle East and North Africa, has been named “Low-Cost Carrier of the Year” at the inaugural Aviation Business Awards 2007 in Dubai. Adel Ali, the carrier’s Chief Executive Officer, was named “Airline CEO of the Year” at the same event.
The award for “Low-Cost Carrier of the Year” is given to the LCC that has demonstrated world-class service across the region over the past 12 months. The award for “Airline CEO for the Year” is given to the CEO who has “made a real difference in managing the company’s business operations whether by [his] management skills, innovative vision or simply by applying the extra effort needed to get the job done.”
“These awards come in recognition of the immensely positive impact Air Arabia has had on air travel in the Middle East,” said Adel Ali. “This award comes in recognition of our operational excellence, outstanding service and competitively priced fares. We are very pleased to have won this award, which I would like to share with all the employees of Air Arabia who are dedicated to making the carrier an ongoing regional success story.
“We were the first to see that the Middle East region was the ideal market for a low-cost carrier that delivered the highest level of service to its passengers. Four years since launch and more than 5 million passengers later, Air Arabia is now firmly established as the leading LCC in the wider region.”
The award for “Low-Cost Carrier of the Year” follows Skytrax’s award for “Best Low-Cost Airline in the Middle East,” based on global, independent surveys of more than 14 million passengers, given in August of this year.
The Sharjah-based carrier has embarked on an extensive expansion in 2007, with the announced purchase of up to 49 new A320 aircraft from Airbus over the next several years and the upcoming opening of a second hub in Rabat, Morocco. Recently added destinations and flights across South Asia and the Middle East have also demonstrated the carrier’s rapid expansion in the last few months.
