From the UAE "Gulf NEws"(14/12):
"Air Arabia, the UAE's national airline and the first low-cost airline of its kind in the region, yesterday unveiled its starting fares and explained the dynamics of its fare structure.
"We are committed to offering the lowest possible market fares at any given date to any destination," claimed Adel Ali, CEO.
Air Arabia's starting fares vary according to destination. A one-way ticket from Sharjah starts at Dhs 159 to Bahrain, Dhs 222 to Kuwait, Dhs 99 to Muscat, Dhs 199 to Beirut, and Dhs 310 to Damascus - excluding government taxes, which vary from country to country.
The fares are all quoted one way to allow customers the flexibility to choose their return destination at their convenience.
The way the fares are structured depends on market supply and demand, Ali explained. Hence, fares increase as seats are sold on every flight. Accordingly, the earlier a passenger books, the more likely it is that they will pay the 'starting' fare.
The adoption of a 'ticketless' airline concept also results in saving on paper and processing costs, and less hassle for the customer, who need not worry about collecting tickets, as well as omission of free in-flight meals.
Air Arabia flies to Bahrain, Beirut, Damascus, Kuwait and Muscat. The projected destination list will cover: Amman, Cairo, Colombo, Doha, Isfahan, Shiraz and Tehran, Sanaa and Saudi Arabia.
Bookings can be made through the call centre, the website
www.airarabia. com, or appointed travel agents."