| Dubai FAQ | Dubai forum | Print | Air Arabia Sharjah (SHJ)
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Saturday 07 November 2009 (UAE)
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Air Arabia information and flights
- Air Arabia is a "no-frills" budget airline or Low-Cost-Carrier (LCC) that flies from Sharjah airport, not Dubai, and has a hub in Morocco (Rabat). Another hub is expected to be launched in 2009, possibly Beirut according to one consultancy. Air Arabia also had a hub in Nepal (Kathmandu) in a tie-up with flyyeti.com from January to June 2008.
- Travelling on Air Arabia is less comfortable than travelling on the other UAE based airlines, Emirates Airlines or Etihad Airways, as you would expect from a budget airline. Seats are locked in the upright position with less space between them, you have to pay for drinks and food on board (and there's a limited range - bring your own sandwiches), if there is a delay or cancelled flight then don't expect much in the way of help, changing ticket dates is difficult and/or costly. However, if you book more than a few weeks in advance then you do get good deals on ticket prices. Remember that quoted prices are usually one way so you'll need to double them to get return trip prices, and add a few hundred dirhams for various airport taxes. For bookings close to the travel date, Air Arabia flights are more expensive, sometimes not that much different compared to a more comfortable airline.
- If travelling from Dubai to Sharjah airport, allow at least 100 dhs each way in a taxi (300 dhs from Abu Dhabi).
- Air Arabia routes are concentrated around the Middle East and Asia, with destinations in Afghanistan, Bahrain, Egypt, Greece, India, Iran, Jordan, Kazakhstan/Khazakstan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Nepal, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Turkey, Yemen.
- January 2008, Air Arabia launched a tie-up with Yeti Airlines in Nepal (flyyeti.com) for more low-cost air travel.
- Air Arabia's first European flight started 21 April 2009 to Athens, Greece
- As of April 2009, Air Arabia has 46 flight destinations including their new Goa and Athens flights.
- Air Arabia have their own hotel next to Sharjah Airport, the Air Arabia Centro Hotel, 3 stars, open April 2010.
Air Arabia tickets, bookings and payments from
- Online from the Air Arabia website
- At branches of Emirates Post offices
- Dubai Islamic Bank - internet banking, mobile and phone banking, ATMs, and cash deposit machines
Air Arabia list of flight destinations to and from Sharjah Airport (SHJ)
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- Peshawar flights diverted to Islamabad from 23 August 2009 due to security issues in Pakistan.
- Athens, Greece - Athens Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport (ATH) from 21 April 2009, 3 flights per week on Tue, Thu, Sat. Flight times: depart SHJ 1855, arrive ATH 2245, depart ATH 2330, arrive SHJ 0520 next day
- Goa, India - Dabolim International Airport (GOI) from 16 April 2009, 3 flights per week on Tue, Thu, Sat. Flight times: depart SHJ 0025, arrive GOI 0505, depart GOI 0550, arrive SHJ 0735.
- Kozhikode CCJ / Calicut - flights started 26 Feb 2008, daily flights from 28 May 2008, suspended according to a 23 Mar 2009 news report.
- Medina (MED), Saudi Arabia - flights starting 01 September 2009, 2x per week to Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz Airport
- Samara Kurumoch International Airport (KUF) in Russia - flights to begin on 26 October 2009 according to Samara Airport press office 30 September 2009. Flights on Mondays and Fridays. Not confirmed by Air Arabia until 11 October 2009 press release.
Air Arabia history and significant dates
- 09 September 2009 - Air Arabia announces a third hub in Egypt in a partnership with Travco Group in Egypt. Air Arabia Sharjah will have a 40% stake.
- 13 April 2009 - Air Arabia wins the "Best Middle East Low Cost Carrier" award in the Skytrax 2009 World Airline Awards. Air Arabia won the same award in 2008 and 2007 also.
- 03 November 2008 - Air Arabia Maroc will start flights from Casablanca, Morocco in early 2009
- 29 June 2008 - FlyYeti announces suspension of flights from mid-July 2008
- 20 January 2008 - Air Arabia hub in Nepal launched with flyyeti.com
- 17 November 2007 - Air Arabia wins the "Low Cost Carrier of the Year" award at the Skytrax Aviation Business Awards 2007. Air Arabia had also won the 2007 "Best Low-Cost Airline in the Middle East".
- 17 July 2007 - Air Arabia listed on the Dubai Financial Market
- 19 June 2007 - Air Arabia incorporation date as a public company
- 18-27 March 2007 - Air Arabia Initial Public Offering (IPO) of its shares
- 28 June 2005 - millionth passenger carried since launch
- 05 May 2005 - receives silver award for best MENA airline
- 28 October 2003 - Air Arabia first flight launched from Sharjah to Bahrain
- 03 February 2003 - Air Arabia incorporation date as a limited liability company
- 28 January 2003 - Air Arabia established in Sharjah by Royal Amiri Decree
- October 2002 - Air Arabia concept initiated
Air Arabia management and personnel
- Chairman of Air Arabia is Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohammad Al Thani
- Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is Adel Ali
Air Arabia numbers and data
| Year¹ | Revenue | Profit | Aircraft | Destinations | Flights/week | Passengers | Cargo | Pilots | Cabin crew | Staff | Nationalities |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003² | 5 | 16 | |||||||||
| 2004 | 21m | 5 | 15 | 534,000 | |||||||
| 2005 | 411m | 32m | 1.1 million | ||||||||
| 2006 | 749m | 101m | |||||||||
| 2007 | 282m | 11 | 2.7 million | ||||||||
| 2008 | 510m | 3.6 million | |||||||||
| 2009³ | 16 | 44 | |||||||||
| 2014 | 100 |
- Figures are as of 31 December where appropriate (number of aircraft, destinations, flights, staff), other figures are for the 12 month period ending 31 December. Profit and revenue figures are in UAE dirhams.
- Air Arabia started operations in October 2003 so data are not for a full year
- Figures as of 13 April 2009. Figures in italics are estimates for the full year. Update June 2009 - fleet size up to 22 aircraft.
Information sources are Air Arabia press releases, financial statements, WAM or other news agency reports.
Air Arabia Travco Egypt third hub
See Air Arabia Egypt
- Air Arabia Egypt partnership between Air Arabia in the UAE and Travco Group in Egypt, announced 09 September 2009
- First flights expected in first half of 2010 from several different Egyptian airports.
- Air Arabia Egypt will be the third hub for Air Arabia after Sharjah, UAE, and Casablanca, Morocco.
Air Arabia Morocco - Air Arabia Moroc
Air Arabia Moroc (not Air Arabia Maroc) is the Moroccan subsidiary of Air Arabia in Sharjah and operates from Air Arabia's African hub at Casablanca Mohammed V Airport (IATA code CMN). Air Arabia Maroc first flight was to London Stanstead on 06 May 2009. Air Arabia has a target of 15 destinations from Casablanca by May 2010, and 60 destinations in Africa and Europe by 2014/2015. Destinations from Casablanca include (start dates from press release information, or based on booking availability on Air Arabia website):
- Amsterdam (03 Aug 2009) - 3x per weekly until 24 Aug 2009 then 4x per week.
- Barcelona (before 16 May 2009?)
- Brussels South Charleroi (first flight 12 May 2009)
- London Stanstead (06 May 2009)
- Lyon, France (start date 14 May 2009)
- Marseille (start date 10 May 2009)
- Milan, Bergamo International Airport BGY (Orio Al Serio), start date 12 May 2009, flights 3x per week Tue - Thu - Sat, CMN 09:10 - BGY 14:15, BGY 15:00 - CMN 14:20.
- Paris CDG, France (start date 16 May 2009) - daily flights, depart CMN 10:55, depart CDG 16:40
Air Arabia (Moroc) Chief Executive (CEO) is Jason Bitter, appointment announced 11 July 2009
Air Arabia accidents and incidents
- 24 October 2009 - flight G9402 Mumbai-Sharjah (dep 2150) returned to Mumbai after suspected bird strike, but Air Arabia said the flight had to return "due to technical requirements." Flight departure delayed about 14 hours. (DNA India 25 Oct 2009).
- 24 October 2009 - flight G9282 Athens to Sharjah takeoff aborted after engine warning, engine panel found on runway. Aircraft type A320-200, registration A6-ABB. Another plane departed 16 hours later. (The Aviation Herald 25 Oct 2009).
- 27 July 2009 - Chennai-Sharjah flight grounded with nose and landing gear problems. Two or three more takeoff attempts abandoned. Flight rescheduled to 28 July 2009 (IANS 27 July 2009).
- 05 September 2007 - Air Arabia Sharjah-Katmandu flight G9537 emergency landing at Jai Prakash Narain Airport in Patna, India due to bad weather in Kathmandu, and low fuel. Flight continued same afternoon after refueling and tire-kicking (Patna Daily 05 Sep 2007).
Last update Monday 26-Oct-2009
Related pages
- Air Arabia Egypt
- Air Arabia Morocco
- Budget flights UAE
- Budget hotels UAE
| UAE Airlines: | Air Arabia | Emirates | Etihad | FlyDubai | Kang Pacific | RAK Airways |
|---|---|
| UAE Airports: | AUH (Abu Dhabi) | AAN (Al Ain) | Ajman airport (planned) | DXB (Dubai) | DXB flights | FJR (Fujairah) | JXB (Jebel Ali) | RKT (Ras Al Khaimah) | SHJ (Sharjah) |
| UAE travel information: | budget flights Sharjah | Sharjah flight deals | budget hotels Dubai | hotels in Sharjah | budget holidays Sharjah | egate card Sharjah | tourist guide Dubai | visit visa Sharjah |
Related websites (open in new window)
- www.airarabia.com - Air Arabia website and online booking website (www.airarabia.ae also valid)
- Dubai directory - add your link free