Air Arabia coming soon

CoyBoy · Post by **CoyBoy** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 10:08 pm

They are to start four times weekly service to KHI and three times to PEW, no date announced.

PK777 · Post by **PK777** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 1:13 am

Source, please?

SalamPaks · Post by **SalamPaks** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 3:25 am

Excellent News if true.

amerali · Post by **amerali** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 10:45 pm

Here is a source.

http://www.gulfnews.com/business/Aviation/10097663.html

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Air Arabia announces services to Pakistan
Staff Report

Dubai: Air Arabia has announced the upcoming start of operations between Sharjah and Pakistan with services flying to Karachi and Peshawar.

After talks were recently held in Abu Dhabi with UAE and Pakistan authorities, Air Arabia's project to fly to Pakistan was given the go ahead and should be of great convenience to the UAE's large Pakistani community.

Shaikh Abdullah Bin Mohammad Al Thani, chairman of Air Arabia, said: "We are extremely pleased with the outcome of the talks. We have had a desire to operate a service to Pakistan for a very long time and it is a happy occasion to be able to announce that the people in the UAE and Pakistan will be able to benefit from low-fare travel between the two countries."

Schedule

Air Arabia will fly daily to Pakistan, splitting operations between Karachi four days a week and Peshawar three days a week.

The flight schedule will soon be announced and will allow passengers to book and pay online by simply visiting the company's website; www.airarabia.com.

Pakistan becomes the 21st country that Air Arabia flies to, raising its network to a total of 34 destinations in just three years of operations.

Adnaan786 · Post by **Adnaan786** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 12:20 am

I've also heard about them going to India.

behramjee · Post by **behramjee** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 12:34 am

they would make more money flying those 4 weekly flights to LHE instead of KHI.

but then it was easier getting rights for them to fly to KHI due to the open skies policy that KHI has which LHE/ISB doesnt!

CoyBoy · Post by **CoyBoy** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 8:30 pm

India has been in their network since day one when they started operations five years ago.

sadiqhassan · Post by **sadiqhassan** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 3:48 am

behramjee wrote:they would make more money flying those 4 weekly flights to LHE instead of KHI.

but then it was easier getting rights for them to fly to KHI due to the open skies policy that KHI has which LHE/ISB doesnt!

I agree, LHE would definately be a better choice. I am a little skeptical about Air Arabia doing well on SHJ-KHI

atmalik · Post by **atmalik** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 8:56 am

so since this a low cost airline, any one knows whatthe fare difference is going to be between regular airlines and air arabia?

zEro.a1r · Post by **zEro.a1r** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 9:25 pm

but then it was easier getting rights for them to fly to KHI due to the open skies policy that KHI has which LHE/ISB doesnt!

What rule is that, can anyone explain? Please. Thankyou.

DEZI · Post by **DEZI** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 10:18 pm

With more and more private/foreign carriers getting landing rights PIA should start rethinking about their future business plans. Refurbish and maintain the owned fleet. This is the key.

Bahrain_flyer · Post by **Bahrain_flyer** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 2:13 pm

Just read on the Gulf news today:

Air Arabia, which became profitable in its third year of operation, is in ambitious growth mode and has started services to Pakistan.

Can anyone confirm if the website shows schedules for any Pakistani sector. I am unable to open their site.

sadiqhassan · Post by **sadiqhassan** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 2:17 am

zEro.a1r wrote:
but then it was easier getting rights for them to fly to KHI due to the open skies policy that KHI has which LHE/ISB doesnt!
What rule is that, can anyone explain? Please. Thankyou.

I am not 100% sure of the way the agreement works but in short:

Any carrier can operate UAE - Karachi services as often as they want

Carriers must get approval before flying UAE - Lahore / Islamabad / Peshawar and are usually limited in their frequencies.

PK777 · Post by **PK777** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 3:14 am

Maybe because as the gulf carriers have tapped into the Karachi hub so much that PIA will no longer be the strong hold for it? The CAA/PIA may feel if LHE/ISB/PEW all get the same go ahead there maybe more losses for the national carrier as well as the private carriers... got to protect your own investments before caring about foreigners.