Air Arabia - all you need to know about it (threads merged)
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Just for the record W Weasel I’ve actually been in the company longer than you have so yes I do remember how things were before.
For me honestly I could care less about what happens really, its just a shame to see some of my very close friends get screwed up by this whole system and yes they have more experience than probably most of the guys in the company. Anyways most of them are heading back home soon so doesn’t matter I guess.
And tell me please what airline that you previously mentioned accept the same massive roster changes that happen within G9 without a proper pilot to pilot swap? With us It’s just the pilots calling crew sked and changing flights, I mean don’t get me wrong its good to do in the case of emergencies, family matters and what not. But not become a monthly routine. And yes I do take advantage of it ;-) haha but only to some extent. Like you said got to go with the flow. I only say why does this have to happen in the first place and why cant we work out a “proper bidding system” that actually works? And one question that I cant get a proper answer for yet; How come the rosters don’t get published anymore?
W Weasel I personally know that you have a great deal of experience in this area other than your flying from back home, so why don’t you try to push the guys to implement a better system? I know we all tried in previous meetings and at one point all gave up. But I think its about time we push for a proper one.
Anyways got to run ill catch this thread later.
Safe flying
For me honestly I could care less about what happens really, its just a shame to see some of my very close friends get screwed up by this whole system and yes they have more experience than probably most of the guys in the company. Anyways most of them are heading back home soon so doesn’t matter I guess.
And tell me please what airline that you previously mentioned accept the same massive roster changes that happen within G9 without a proper pilot to pilot swap? With us It’s just the pilots calling crew sked and changing flights, I mean don’t get me wrong its good to do in the case of emergencies, family matters and what not. But not become a monthly routine. And yes I do take advantage of it ;-) haha but only to some extent. Like you said got to go with the flow. I only say why does this have to happen in the first place and why cant we work out a “proper bidding system” that actually works? And one question that I cant get a proper answer for yet; How come the rosters don’t get published anymore?
W Weasel I personally know that you have a great deal of experience in this area other than your flying from back home, so why don’t you try to push the guys to implement a better system? I know we all tried in previous meetings and at one point all gave up. But I think its about time we push for a proper one.
Anyways got to run ill catch this thread later.
Safe flying
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Hey BD22: I did not mean to sound condescending and if I did my apologies. Some of the stuff I thought was coming from the guys – well you know what I mean. I now know you and understand.
As for the trying to get the roster right – well I think you know JF and I tried our earnest back in 04-05 to do that (along with the seniority thing.) Remember I was the guy the DECs called “Captain Copilot” on the DOH issue and the not so heated arguments with AS.
Yes we will miss the guys and so will the company, but you and I know that is not in their plan.
As for your answer about the airline, well you know it was my company. That bid sheet and the ability to fly or not fly whatever you wanted. Sure it was nice for us but also great for the company. We ran about 12-13% fewer total pilots (fewer reserves) than the other majors. That amounted to about 7-8 hundred guys when I retired, but much more today (over a 1000.)
I’ll give you an example how it worked. A senior guy is also the coach of his kid’s football team and chooses to bid weekends off. No problem for he has the seniority. At the end of the season the kid’s team wins and gets into the playoffs. The game is on Wednesday, the day Dad (the coach) has to fly a 12 hour 330 flight to Europe. In the other world, Dad has little choice but to “call in sick” for trip trading in a 5-10 thousand pilot airline is near impossible with all the permeations. The company calls out a reserve to fly the trip. Later that month the reserve is not available for another trip because he flew THAT trip and the company calls a third pilot (another reserve.)
In our world, that world back there, the Dad simply dropped his trip. Sure a reserve flew that trip but Dad was responsible for his block time for the month. He got an 80 hour line and he is responsible for 80 hours. Now he could claim the time sick but he doesn’t – why? Well he drops his trip, the reserve flies it (as before) and Dad has the game. Let’s say the team looses and now it is over for Dad and his family responsibilities. But, on Saturday (a day he had normally off), he puts himself available on the “Bid Sheet.” This is far to complicated to explain here, but suffice it to say, he has made himself a reserve from the company standpoint. An extremely senior pilot becomes a reserve. He picks up a trip (that someone else dropped or is in open time) and flies the trip.
Now look at the pilot usage. In case one the company had a pilot out, a reserve used and later a 3rd pilot used for the future trip. In our case the company had a pilot out, a reserve used and the original pilot used for the future trip. 33% fewer pilots in this example. It worked great for all and I did it for over a quarter century!
Of course you need a large pilot force for it to flow as smoothly as it did there, but it can also be manageable with a small force. In all the give backs and all the pilot/management negotiations during those horrible years – not once did the company desire to change that. As a matter of fact ALPA once offered to remove it and the company refused to budge – they wanted it more than the pilots.
I retired quite senior but my last 4 years I NEVER bid a line of flying – not one single month. I always used the Bid Sheet. I could care less what I got (except those few restricted days like XMAS etc) because I new up front that I would never fly 10% of what I actually got. I retired #17 out of 197 Captains on the big bus in PHL, #209 out of 6416 total and I could have been #1 out of 274 if I down bid to the 76. I had a fairly good life until I got tired of the cold, rain, taxes, sore knees, the FAs were younger than my daughter and all the international stuff flew at night over the NAT Tracks - you know that I don't do night flights well
Now the beauty of the bid sheet was the junior guys got some great trips that their seniority would never hold. When I was tail end Charlie on the 72, I got a 3 day layovers in Bermuda during the winter that I will never forget. Why, because some block holder needed that time off and he was hundreds of numbers senior to me.
There are few guys here that want to take the scheduling out of the hands of Bombay, more than me. I have tried diligently to explain the “win-win” situation of what I write. Back in the world I was extremely knowledgeable of this operation for I was the ALPA over 85 chairmen (or LEC member) for 9 years. Technical airplane knowledge – go for it, but make it work for pilots and the company, that was my baby. The only problem is most guys really don’t care.
So I simply say the facts as they exists and hope others take what is and do the best for themselves. We all know it is hard to get two pilots to agree on when to put the gear down not alone scheduling and seniority issues.
Burners and Out!
As for the trying to get the roster right – well I think you know JF and I tried our earnest back in 04-05 to do that (along with the seniority thing.) Remember I was the guy the DECs called “Captain Copilot” on the DOH issue and the not so heated arguments with AS.
Yes we will miss the guys and so will the company, but you and I know that is not in their plan.
As for your answer about the airline, well you know it was my company. That bid sheet and the ability to fly or not fly whatever you wanted. Sure it was nice for us but also great for the company. We ran about 12-13% fewer total pilots (fewer reserves) than the other majors. That amounted to about 7-8 hundred guys when I retired, but much more today (over a 1000.)
I’ll give you an example how it worked. A senior guy is also the coach of his kid’s football team and chooses to bid weekends off. No problem for he has the seniority. At the end of the season the kid’s team wins and gets into the playoffs. The game is on Wednesday, the day Dad (the coach) has to fly a 12 hour 330 flight to Europe. In the other world, Dad has little choice but to “call in sick” for trip trading in a 5-10 thousand pilot airline is near impossible with all the permeations. The company calls out a reserve to fly the trip. Later that month the reserve is not available for another trip because he flew THAT trip and the company calls a third pilot (another reserve.)
In our world, that world back there, the Dad simply dropped his trip. Sure a reserve flew that trip but Dad was responsible for his block time for the month. He got an 80 hour line and he is responsible for 80 hours. Now he could claim the time sick but he doesn’t – why? Well he drops his trip, the reserve flies it (as before) and Dad has the game. Let’s say the team looses and now it is over for Dad and his family responsibilities. But, on Saturday (a day he had normally off), he puts himself available on the “Bid Sheet.” This is far to complicated to explain here, but suffice it to say, he has made himself a reserve from the company standpoint. An extremely senior pilot becomes a reserve. He picks up a trip (that someone else dropped or is in open time) and flies the trip.
Now look at the pilot usage. In case one the company had a pilot out, a reserve used and later a 3rd pilot used for the future trip. In our case the company had a pilot out, a reserve used and the original pilot used for the future trip. 33% fewer pilots in this example. It worked great for all and I did it for over a quarter century!
Of course you need a large pilot force for it to flow as smoothly as it did there, but it can also be manageable with a small force. In all the give backs and all the pilot/management negotiations during those horrible years – not once did the company desire to change that. As a matter of fact ALPA once offered to remove it and the company refused to budge – they wanted it more than the pilots.
I retired quite senior but my last 4 years I NEVER bid a line of flying – not one single month. I always used the Bid Sheet. I could care less what I got (except those few restricted days like XMAS etc) because I new up front that I would never fly 10% of what I actually got. I retired #17 out of 197 Captains on the big bus in PHL, #209 out of 6416 total and I could have been #1 out of 274 if I down bid to the 76. I had a fairly good life until I got tired of the cold, rain, taxes, sore knees, the FAs were younger than my daughter and all the international stuff flew at night over the NAT Tracks - you know that I don't do night flights well
Now the beauty of the bid sheet was the junior guys got some great trips that their seniority would never hold. When I was tail end Charlie on the 72, I got a 3 day layovers in Bermuda during the winter that I will never forget. Why, because some block holder needed that time off and he was hundreds of numbers senior to me.
There are few guys here that want to take the scheduling out of the hands of Bombay, more than me. I have tried diligently to explain the “win-win” situation of what I write. Back in the world I was extremely knowledgeable of this operation for I was the ALPA over 85 chairmen (or LEC member) for 9 years. Technical airplane knowledge – go for it, but make it work for pilots and the company, that was my baby. The only problem is most guys really don’t care.
So I simply say the facts as they exists and hope others take what is and do the best for themselves. We all know it is hard to get two pilots to agree on when to put the gear down not alone scheduling and seniority issues.
Burners and Out!
Last edited by W Weasel; 1st Nov 2007 at 20:01.
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W.W,
A real informative post. You do seem to be an asset to the management and be a Pilots guy at the same time.
Flying is tough everywhere except the giants..you mentioned , with the bid system etc
however the work load in a growing airline is gradual and only longtimers can appreciate the changes.
A real informative post. You do seem to be an asset to the management and be a Pilots guy at the same time.
Flying is tough everywhere except the giants..you mentioned , with the bid system etc
however the work load in a growing airline is gradual and only longtimers can appreciate the changes.
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Boeing or Airbus
According to Reuters, some fleet increase will happen soon:
Reuters reports Boeing (BA) or Airbus may win an order this month worth as much as $3.95 bln from United Arab Emirates-based Air Arabia, which said on Sunday it plans to buy as many as 50 planes.
The Middle Eastern low-cost carrier had previously said it was looking
to purchase 34 either Boeing 737 aircraft or A320s from Airbus, a unit
of EADS. A Boeing 737-800 costs as much as $79 mln at list prices,
valuing a 50-plane order at $3.95 bln. An order for 50 A320s would be
worth about $3.25 bln.
BF
Reuters reports Boeing (BA) or Airbus may win an order this month worth as much as $3.95 bln from United Arab Emirates-based Air Arabia, which said on Sunday it plans to buy as many as 50 planes.
The Middle Eastern low-cost carrier had previously said it was looking
to purchase 34 either Boeing 737 aircraft or A320s from Airbus, a unit
of EADS. A Boeing 737-800 costs as much as $79 mln at list prices,
valuing a 50-plane order at $3.95 bln. An order for 50 A320s would be
worth about $3.25 bln.
BF
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Air Arabia second hub
seen on Air Arabia website.
» Air Arabia to open second hub in Morroco to
serve Europe, Middle East and Africa
Under the terms of the agreement, Air Arabia intends to assume management control of the Morocco-based carrier. Air Arabia will apply its successful low cost business model to the management Regional Air Lines.
Together with Air Arabia, Ithmaar Bank, a Bahrain-based investment bank with global reach, will provide a significant capital injection for the Morocco-based carrier and join Air Arabia and Regional Air Lines as partners in the newly created company.
Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohammed Al Thani, Air Arabia Chairman said: “Air Arabia is currently in the midst of a period of rapid expansion. This agreement provides us with the opportunity to reach into fast-growing markets in North Africa and across the Mediterranean into southern Europe. With a strong presence in the Egyptian cities of Alexandria, Luxor and Assiut, Air Arabia will now be able to expand significantly this coverage area across the EMEA region.”
Mohamed Hassan Ben Salah, Chairman, Regional Air Lines, said: “This agreement marks an important and natural next step in the evolution of Regional Air Lines, which was founded a decade ago to meet the needs of travelers within Morocco and in southern Europe. In partnership with Air Arabia and Ithmaar Bank, we will provide travelers in Morocco and across the EMEA region with far greater choice in selecting efficient and cost-effective travel solutions. Considering that Morocco expects to welcome an estimated 10 million tourists a year by 2010, this is an especially timely announcement. There is also a very large Moroccan diaspora, particularly in Europe, who will benefit when traveling between the Continent and the Kingdom.”
Khalid Abdulla-Janahi, Chairman of Ithmaar’s Board of Directors, said: “Given the financial strength and operational excellence of Air Arabia and the proven track record of Regional Air Lines, we see this agreement as an ideal way to strengthen both carriers. The seamless integration of the operations of the two airlines – along with the financial expertise provided by Ithmaar Bank – will lead to new synergies that will benefit all the partners.”
Ithmaar Bank is serving as the financial advisor and financier for the transaction.
» Air Arabia to open second hub in Morroco to
serve Europe, Middle East and Africa
- Sharjah-based carrier dramatically expands its geographic reach through agreement with Regional Air Lines of Morocco
- Air Arabia intends to assume management rights for Morocco-based carrier
- Air Arabia and Ithmaar Bank provide capital injection for Regional Air Lines
Under the terms of the agreement, Air Arabia intends to assume management control of the Morocco-based carrier. Air Arabia will apply its successful low cost business model to the management Regional Air Lines.
Together with Air Arabia, Ithmaar Bank, a Bahrain-based investment bank with global reach, will provide a significant capital injection for the Morocco-based carrier and join Air Arabia and Regional Air Lines as partners in the newly created company.
Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohammed Al Thani, Air Arabia Chairman said: “Air Arabia is currently in the midst of a period of rapid expansion. This agreement provides us with the opportunity to reach into fast-growing markets in North Africa and across the Mediterranean into southern Europe. With a strong presence in the Egyptian cities of Alexandria, Luxor and Assiut, Air Arabia will now be able to expand significantly this coverage area across the EMEA region.”
Mohamed Hassan Ben Salah, Chairman, Regional Air Lines, said: “This agreement marks an important and natural next step in the evolution of Regional Air Lines, which was founded a decade ago to meet the needs of travelers within Morocco and in southern Europe. In partnership with Air Arabia and Ithmaar Bank, we will provide travelers in Morocco and across the EMEA region with far greater choice in selecting efficient and cost-effective travel solutions. Considering that Morocco expects to welcome an estimated 10 million tourists a year by 2010, this is an especially timely announcement. There is also a very large Moroccan diaspora, particularly in Europe, who will benefit when traveling between the Continent and the Kingdom.”
Khalid Abdulla-Janahi, Chairman of Ithmaar’s Board of Directors, said: “Given the financial strength and operational excellence of Air Arabia and the proven track record of Regional Air Lines, we see this agreement as an ideal way to strengthen both carriers. The seamless integration of the operations of the two airlines – along with the financial expertise provided by Ithmaar Bank – will lead to new synergies that will benefit all the partners.”
Ithmaar Bank is serving as the financial advisor and financier for the transaction.
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Big Bus or Cheap Boeings?
In a need to connect hubs, airlines are required to maintain daily inter-hub flights. With the announced new hub in Morocco Air Arabia has made a defacto statement that an aircraft to connect those hubs is needed. The A-320 is incapable of doing so efficiently which means that the winner of the $4 billion dollar ABY aircraft order MUST deliver an aircraft in the mean time to perform such functions.
It is well known that both Airbus and Boeing have a long lead time for aircraft deliveries; however, neither manufacturer wishes to loose such a lucrative order. As a result it is probable that the ingenious management of ABY has negotiated a deal to supplement this hub need with the manufacturer. A-330s are hard to get but B-767s can be had. Each aircraft has the capability to do what would be required but which manufacturer made the deal? And which aircraft will make up the ultimate fleet at ABY?
Stay tuned and find out in 24 hours.
Burners & Out
It is well known that both Airbus and Boeing have a long lead time for aircraft deliveries; however, neither manufacturer wishes to loose such a lucrative order. As a result it is probable that the ingenious management of ABY has negotiated a deal to supplement this hub need with the manufacturer. A-330s are hard to get but B-767s can be had. Each aircraft has the capability to do what would be required but which manufacturer made the deal? And which aircraft will make up the ultimate fleet at ABY?
Stay tuned and find out in 24 hours.
Burners & Out
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From the press release :
Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohammed Al Thani, Air Arabia Chairman said: “Air Arabia is currently in the midst of a period of rapid expansion. This agreement provides us with the opportunity to reach into fast-growing markets in North Africa and across the Mediterranean into southern Europe. With a strong presence in the Egyptian cities of Alexandria, Luxor and Assiut, Air Arabia will now be able to expand significantly this coverage area across the EMEA region.”
Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohammed Al Thani, Air Arabia Chairman said: “Air Arabia is currently in the midst of a period of rapid expansion. This agreement provides us with the opportunity to reach into fast-growing markets in North Africa and across the Mediterranean into southern Europe. With a strong presence in the Egyptian cities of Alexandria, Luxor and Assiut, Air Arabia will now be able to expand significantly this coverage area across the EMEA region.”
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Pharaoh:
I understand your implication however, I must add this. Economically it makes no sense for these cities to be in the game. If you are connecting Europe and NA to the SHJ route structure one must ask the simple question: what passengers? Even the poorest Indian maid in France or Germany will not fly Paris-Rabat-Alexander-Sharjah-Mumbai or any such combination. Every airline on the planet understands such service is unprofitable. We all know our SHJ-Latakya-Allepo-SHJ flight was not extremely profitable: so much so that the company in November discontinued that routing. It is now Sharjah-Latakya-Sharjah and Sharjah-Aleppo-Sharjah as independent flights.
So I still contend that something must be had to connect Morocco and Sharjah directly.
I understand your implication however, I must add this. Economically it makes no sense for these cities to be in the game. If you are connecting Europe and NA to the SHJ route structure one must ask the simple question: what passengers? Even the poorest Indian maid in France or Germany will not fly Paris-Rabat-Alexander-Sharjah-Mumbai or any such combination. Every airline on the planet understands such service is unprofitable. We all know our SHJ-Latakya-Allepo-SHJ flight was not extremely profitable: so much so that the company in November discontinued that routing. It is now Sharjah-Latakya-Sharjah and Sharjah-Aleppo-Sharjah as independent flights.
So I still contend that something must be had to connect Morocco and Sharjah directly.
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Update
Air Arabia (Sharjah) has reached a new agreement with Regional Air Lines (Casablanca) in order to establish a new base at Rabat. Oddly Regional operates through a Casablanca hub and does not currently serve Rabat. However this will give Air Arabia access to new markets in North Africa, the Mediterranean and southern Europe. Under the agreement Air Arabia will assume management control of Regional. As the first private airline in Morocco, Regional was established in 1996 and commenced operations in July 1997. It currently operates two King Airs, four Beech 1900Ds and four ATR 42-300s on regional routes. Air Arabia will move some of its Airbus A320s to this new operation. It is unclear at this time if Regional will operate under the Air Arabia brand.
http://airlinersgallery.************...w-base-in.html
According to AA the new operation WILL operate under the ABY brand.
http://airlinersgallery.************...w-base-in.html
According to AA the new operation WILL operate under the ABY brand.
Last edited by W Weasel; 11th Nov 2007 at 19:51.
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It looks like a Bus
DUBAI (Reuters) - Air Arabia (AIRA.DU: Quote, Profile, Research), the Middle East's largest low-cost carrier, said on Sunday it would raise around $1.6 billion in conventional and Islamic loans and bonds to finance the purchase of about 40 short-haul aircraft.
"We'll make an order in the next couple of days," Air Arabia Chief Executive Adel Ali told Reuters at the Dubai Airshow, which started on Sunday.
"It will be in the region of 40 planes," Ali said. Each plane would cost around $50 million, he said, indicating a total cost of about $2 billion.
Air Arabia said last week it was looking to buy between 34 and 50 aircraft and would choose this month between U.S plane maker Boeing's (BA.N: Quote, Profile, Research) 737s and the A320 from European rival Airbus.
The carrier would borrow about 80 percent of the cost of the planes in a combination of loans and bonds, Ali said, without being more specific.
http://www.reuters.com/article/press...13985920071111
Looks like a Bus order, unless it was a REALLY good deal from Boeing!
"We'll make an order in the next couple of days," Air Arabia Chief Executive Adel Ali told Reuters at the Dubai Airshow, which started on Sunday.
"It will be in the region of 40 planes," Ali said. Each plane would cost around $50 million, he said, indicating a total cost of about $2 billion.
Air Arabia said last week it was looking to buy between 34 and 50 aircraft and would choose this month between U.S plane maker Boeing's (BA.N: Quote, Profile, Research) 737s and the A320 from European rival Airbus.
The carrier would borrow about 80 percent of the cost of the planes in a combination of loans and bonds, Ali said, without being more specific.
http://www.reuters.com/article/press...13985920071111
Looks like a Bus order, unless it was a REALLY good deal from Boeing!
Last edited by W Weasel; 11th Nov 2007 at 20:02.
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was this the reason for the payhike?
Hence the new payscale.
The mgmt hopes to move a few A320 to this ops and is likely to require crew for the ac.
Any likelyhood of being relocated to casasblanca or morrocco?
The mgmt hopes to move a few A320 to this ops and is likely to require crew for the ac.
Any likelyhood of being relocated to casasblanca or morrocco?
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Hot off the Press
UAE's Air Arabia orders 34 Airbus A320s, options on 15 more 11.12.07, 7:44 AM ET
DUBAI Thomson Financial - The UAE-based budget airline Air Arabia has ordered 34 Airbus A320 planes and agreed to option 15 more, the two companies said.
The total value of the deal is worth around 3.5 bln usd, company executives said at a news conference during the Dubai air show.
Air Arabia chooses Airbus for $3.5b order
By Ivan Gale, Staff Reporter
Published: November 12, 2007, 17:26
Dubai: Budget airline Air Arabia put an end to months of speculation and selected Airbus the $3.5 billion winner of its fleet order.
The Sharjah carrier placed a firm order for 34 A320s with an option for 15 more. By choosing Airbus, Air Arabia opted to stay with the A320 family which currently makes up its fleet of 11 leased aircraft.
The deal will more than triple the size of Air Arabia’s fleet and drive it closer to achieving a goal of flying 50 aircraft by 2015.
The order did not specify which engine would be used.
Shaikh Abdullah Bin Mohammed Al Thani, Air Arabia chairman, said the purchase would also help the airline become ‘one of the world’s leading low-cost carriers in terms of profit margins, innovation, reputation and operational excellence’
Air Arabia will take delivery of the aircraft starting in 2012, meaning it will have to lease an average of four additional aircraft
until it receives the new planes. Under its business plan, CEO Adel Ali said the airline plans to fly to 80 destinations by 2015 - more than double its current network of 37 routes.
Going forward Ali said new routes would be focused in Central Asia, further into the Middle East and India
and Africa, which remains a largely untapped market for the airline.
Recently the carrier announced the purchase of a stake in a Moroccan budget airline and the installation of Air Arabia’s second hub in Rabat. At yesterday’s press announcement Ali told reporters the 49-aircraft order was made to sustain the growth out of its Sharjah hub and not to build a fleet for other hubs.
Ali said details have not yet been finalized on how much of a stake Air Arabia will ultimately take in the Moroccan carrier, and whether the airline will fly with the Air Arabia livery. But he said it would cater primarily to its domestic Moroccan market, with some routes to Africa and Europe
and a select few to the Middle East.
DUBAI Thomson Financial - The UAE-based budget airline Air Arabia has ordered 34 Airbus A320 planes and agreed to option 15 more, the two companies said.
The total value of the deal is worth around 3.5 bln usd, company executives said at a news conference during the Dubai air show.
More from Gulf News
Air Arabia chooses Airbus for $3.5b order
By Ivan Gale, Staff Reporter
Published: November 12, 2007, 17:26
Dubai: Budget airline Air Arabia put an end to months of speculation and selected Airbus the $3.5 billion winner of its fleet order.
The Sharjah carrier placed a firm order for 34 A320s with an option for 15 more. By choosing Airbus, Air Arabia opted to stay with the A320 family which currently makes up its fleet of 11 leased aircraft.
The deal will more than triple the size of Air Arabia’s fleet and drive it closer to achieving a goal of flying 50 aircraft by 2015.
The order did not specify which engine would be used.Shaikh Abdullah Bin Mohammed Al Thani, Air Arabia chairman, said the purchase would also help the airline become ‘one of the world’s leading low-cost carriers in terms of profit margins, innovation, reputation and operational excellence’
Air Arabia will take delivery of the aircraft starting in 2012, meaning it will have to lease an average of four additional aircraft
until it receives the new planes. Under its business plan, CEO Adel Ali said the airline plans to fly to 80 destinations by 2015 - more than double its current network of 37 routes. [Yea, with 43 going to India
]
]Going forward Ali said new routes would be focused in Central Asia, further into the Middle East and India
and Africa, which remains a largely untapped market for the airline.Recently the carrier announced the purchase of a stake in a Moroccan budget airline and the installation of Air Arabia’s second hub in Rabat. At yesterday’s press announcement Ali told reporters the 49-aircraft order was made to sustain the growth out of its Sharjah hub and not to build a fleet for other hubs.
Ali said details have not yet been finalized on how much of a stake Air Arabia will ultimately take in the Moroccan carrier, and whether the airline will fly with the Air Arabia livery. But he said it would cater primarily to its domestic Moroccan market, with some routes to Africa and Europe
and a select few to the Middle East.
Last edited by W Weasel; 12th Nov 2007 at 13:38.
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Air Arabia will buy A380 to fly to Morocco
Just to let all you speculators know that you're all way off...
They will get an A380 and load it up with 900 seats. Then Weasel will fly that on night flights to Rabat and have to deal with 900 pi$$ed off migration workers when he diverts to Alexandria because Rabat airport was closed due to "VIP" movement not mentioned in any NOTAM.
His poor F/O will deal with the onslaught and head bobbing accusations when they realize there are no stairs available in the whole of Egypt that can accomodate them, while the cabin girls, paralyzed with fright, suck their baby bottles in the safety of the locked cockpit.
Keep dreaming...
They will get an A380 and load it up with 900 seats. Then Weasel will fly that on night flights to Rabat and have to deal with 900 pi$$ed off migration workers when he diverts to Alexandria because Rabat airport was closed due to "VIP" movement not mentioned in any NOTAM.
His poor F/O will deal with the onslaught and head bobbing accusations when they realize there are no stairs available in the whole of Egypt that can accomodate them, while the cabin girls, paralyzed with fright, suck their baby bottles in the safety of the locked cockpit.
Keep dreaming...
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At yesterday’s press announcement Ali told reporters
the 49-aircraft order was made to sustain the growth out of its Sharjah hub
and not to build a fleet for other hubs.
Ali said details have not yet been finalized on how much of a stake Air Arabia will ultimately take in the Moroccan carrier, and whether the airline will fly with the Air Arabia livery.
But he said it would cater primarily to its domestic Moroccan market, with some routes to Africa and Europe and a select few to the Middle East.
the 49-aircraft order was made to sustain the growth out of its Sharjah hub
and not to build a fleet for other hubs.
Ali said details have not yet been finalized on how much of a stake Air Arabia will ultimately take in the Moroccan carrier, and whether the airline will fly with the Air Arabia livery.
But he said it would cater primarily to its domestic Moroccan market, with some routes to Africa and Europe and a select few to the Middle East.