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Budget Airline Chiefs to Discuss Region’s Air Travel Potential
DUBAI — The global financial crisis has made low-cost airlines more accepted in the region and brought new carriers to the UAE, said industry officials ahead of the industry conference Low Cost Airlines World MENA 2009.
The conference, to start today in Al Ain, is expected to host more than 30 Chief Executive Officers from airlines and airports to discuss the development of budget airlines in the region.
Khalifa Mazrouei, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Airports Company, said the international airport at Al Ain had developed as an efficient regional low-cost and cargo hub.
“We share the commitment of all conference participants to meet the needs of a price-sensitive market, and to provide cost-effective solutions to travellers throughout the region,” Al Mazrouei said in a statement.
Air Arabia Chief Executive Officer Adel Ali plans to discuss the use of new hubs to create new markets and redefine route development after the Sharjah-based airline recently launched its Morrocco hub.
While Air Arabia was the first low-cost carrier in the region, others have followed quickly this year, with flydubai launching from Dubai and Malaysia’s Air Asia X planning to fly from Abu Dhabi. In 2009 alone, four low- cost carriers were launched.
“Bringing Air Asia X to Abu Dhabi will revolutionise low cost travel in the region,” said Azran Osman-Rani, Chief Executive Officer of Air Asia X.
“This is a positive move not only for passengers but also the region’s LCCs (Low-cost Carriers). We plan to collaborate and build a stronger industry that delivers more choice and more value to passengers.”
For the past few years, the low cost airline industry in the MENA region has reaped the benefits of a large cost-conscious expatriate population, airport expansion plans, a favourable geographic position, and large pools of liquidity - even in recessionary times.
According to International Air Transport Association, MENA would be the only region in the world to see positive demand growth of 1.2 per cent in 2009 as compared to global air transport industry loss of $4.7 billion.
Other key players in the industry are Kuwait’s Jazeera Airways and Saudi Arabia’s Nas Air.
The three-day event at Al Ain Rotana Hotel is expected to attract more than 100 aviation officials.
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