The Hindu : National : Air Arabia comes to Chennai

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Friday, Nov 03, 2006
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Air Arabia comes to Chennai

Special Correspondent

The fifth Indian destination for the low-cost airline

Adel Ali

CHENNAI: Chennai became the fifth Indian destination for the Sharjah-based low-cost airline, Air Arabia, which inaugurated its daily Airbus-320 flights between the two cities on Thursday.

The inaugural flight from there suffered a delay due to fog over the airport and landed at the Chennai Anna International Terminal in the afternoon with the Chief Executive Officer of Air Arabia, Adel Ali, leading a civil aviation delegation from the United Arab Emirates.

Later at a news conference, Mr. Ali said the 162-seater Airbus link would stimulate the present surge witnessed in the Indian civil aviation scenario. "India is a key target market and Air Arabia is confident of providing a big push to international travel between UAE destinations and Chennai."

He said the airline, launched on October 28, 2003, had now set new trends by keeping the fares nearly 30 to 40 per cent lower than the other competitors. "Air Arabia has carried over 400,000 passengers during 2004 and the airline was confident of crossing the 2 million mark in 2006," Mr. Ali said, adding that the budget airline was keen to open up more sectors in India under the agreements between the two Governments.

Sixth destination

Thiruvananthapuram will be the sixth destination when Air Arabia commences regular flights from November 5.

Rohit Ramachandran, Air Arabia's Regional Manager, India, Sri Lanka and Afghanisthan and A.K. Nizar, Head of Sales, said paid meal services would be provided during the over three-hour flight.

Extra leg room has been provided by reducing the number of seats.

Mr. Ali said the promotional one-way fare to fly to Sharjah was Rs. 3,800 plus Rs.1,800 taxes and surcharges. The airline's office in Chennai would also be providing visa assistance services. Presently, the airline flies to Nagpur, Jaipur, Kochi and Mumbai.

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