U.A.E. to Set Up Yet Another Airline

The skies above the Gulf might get even more crowded next year as plans for a new Abu Dhabi-based low-cost airline get underway.
The new airline to come out of the capital emirate will be the United Arab Emirates’ third budget airline, following in the footsteps of flyDubai based in Dubai and Air Arabian in Sharjah.
“The Middle East is still playing 'catch up' with the rest of the world as far as LCCs [Low Cost Carriers] go,” David J Bentley, Joint Managing Director of Big Pond Aviation, told The Media Line. “The rest of the world is moving on with the continuing evolution of the hybrid model that superficially keeps costs and prices low while pandering to the needs of business travelers.”
In parallel with the Gulf’s premium airlines, the low cost segment of the market has seen substantial growth, with six new carriers established over as many years, including Air Arabian in 2003 in Sharjah, Kuwaiti Jazeera Airways and Saudi Arabian Sama Airlines.
While the major airlines focus on business clientele or tourists flying long haul routes to destinations like the United States, China and India, the low cost airlines tend to focus on inter-regional routes.
29/12/09 Adam Gonn/The Media Line, UAE

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Categories: Foreign Dec 2009, Low Cost General Dec 2009, New Dec 2009