• Home
• /
• Local business

Jazeera Airways Expects 51pc Growth this Year

DUBAI — Jazeera Airways plans to introduce four new routes this year in the Gulf region, in spite of the downturn in the aviation sector, said 
its chairman Marwan Boodai.

Boodai said the carrier would expand in several areas to meet the continued demand during the downturn.

“The demand for air travel, especially low-cost carrier in the Middle East, will remain high during the financial crisis,” said the chairman of Kuwait-based low cost airline on the sidelines of a Wharton forum in Dubai on Wednesday.

According to Boodai, the carrier expects 51 per cent growth this year by handling 2.5 million passengers. Since the airline’s launch four years ago, about three million passengers have flown with Jazeera Airways.

“We are looking forward for 2009,” Boodai said. “We have read all the news about the downturn but the severity is unknown. The future looks grim, that’s one way of looking at it. Another is low-cost airlines that continue to expand in economic downturns flourish.”

Without disclosing any details, Boodai revealed that the airline is expected to remain profitable. The carrier is also increasing its A320 fleet to 10 aircraft from eight, with two additional A320s expected to arrive this June.

Earlier, during a panel discussion Boodai urged Gulf countries to open business environment for international companies as most of the business is being done by government owned companies in the region.

abdulbasit@khaleejtimes.com