Air Arabia wins World Airline Award for best low-cost carrier in Middle East

[Mehfil]

Sharjah-based carrier recognized for exceptional customer satisfaction; Wins award second year in a row.

Air Arabia, the first and largest low-cost carrier (LCC) in the Middle East and North Africa, has won the 2008 World Airline Award for “Best Low-Cost Airline in the Middle East” for the second consecutive year. This honour comes in recognition of Air Arabia’s exceptional level of overall passenger satisfaction.

These awards, based on global, independent passenger surveys of airline standards carried out by Skytrax Research, are the outcome of the measurement of more than 35 different aspects of customer satisfaction levels of an airline's product and service standards. As part of the World Airline Awards selection process, in excess of 4.4 million passengers, of more than 90 nationalities, were polled.

A.K. Nizar, Head of Commercial at Air Arabia, said: “We are extremely pleased to have been named ‘Best Low-Cost Airline in the Middle East’ by The Skytrax World Airline Awards 2008. Winning this award for the second consecutive year reinforces Air Arabia’s commitment to quality and excellence in customer service. This award is especially significant as it is based on the feedback of our passengers.”

Air Arabia has served more than 10 million passengers since the carrier was launched in October 2003. Passenger traffic reached 1.6 million passengers during the first half of 2008, a 33 per cent increase compared to 1.2 million passengers during the same period last year.

The World Airline Award comes on the heels of international recognition of the carrier’s outstanding operational performance. In May 2008 Air Arabia, received the prestigious gold award in the best airline category at the MENA Travel Awards 2008. In June 2007, Air Arabia was named winner of the award for Operational Excellence 2005-2007 by Airbus, one of the world's leading aircraft manufacturers.

The complete results of the Skytrax Research survey are available at www.airlinequality.com.

[Gustak]

I haven't ever traveled in Air Arabia but am surprised to know that its the low cost airline carrier in Middle East. I think i must see to it now. But does it mean by Middle East? Does it has airway services only for countries around Middle East?

[Baani]

Air Arabia (PJSC), listed on the Dubai Financial Market, is the Middle East and North Africa’s leading low-cost carrier (LCC). Air Arabia commenced operations in October 2003 and currently operates a fleet of 15 new Airbus A320 aircraft, serving 41 destinations across the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia and Central Asia through its main hub in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.

Air Arabia is modeled after leading American and European low-cost airlines, and its business model is customised to accommodate local preferences. Its main focus is to make air travel more convenient through Internet bookings and offering the lowest fares in the market along with the highest levels of safety and service standards. For further information visit Air Arabia.