(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) Amman, Jordan- Sharjah-headquartered low cost carrier, Air Arabia is looking at increasing the frequency of flights to Oman.
The airline believes that the entry of more budget airlines would be good as it increases competition, thus benefiting customers.
'We have got quite a substantial operation in Oman. In fact, we are adding some more frequency from Ras al Khaimah and Sharjah to both Muscat and Salalah,' said Air Arabia group chief executive officer Adel Abdulla al Ali on the sidelines of Arab Aviation Summit in Amman, Jordan.
Ali said,'We started with one flight to Muscat; now we have three. We are adding more flights to Salalah. We are now also operating from Ras al Khaimah. Oman is sizeable station for us. So, if there is demand, we will be increasing supply.'
On the entry of the new budget airline Salam Air, Ali said, 'I don't think budget airlines have properly utilised opportunities or got proper share in the market. Entry of one more airline would strengthen the idea that market needs more budget airlines. It is business; population is growing and so is demand. If they deliver what they promise, they will succeed.'
On current turmoil in the aviation industry, Ali said, 'What is happening in GCC countries is the double impact of slowdown in economies and at the same time massive capacity additions. These two factors created demand and supply mismatch. Which is normal during economic downturn. And now, after a turbulent first year, things have started picking up again.'
While speaking at the inauguration of the event, he said, within the next two-and-a-half decades airlines operating in the Arab region are expected to double their fleet from the present 1,300 aircraft to support a robust growth in passenger traffic in the region.
The Arab Aviation Summit is an industry initiative committed to improving the state of Arab travel and tourism by facilitating a constructive dialogue for public-private cooperation. This year, the summit was held under the patronage of Lina Annab, Minister of Tourism and Antiques in Jordan, with the theme 'Linking Cultures, Driving Economies.'
Top-level aviation and tourism officials who attended the meeting include Dr Bandar Fahad al Fehaid, president, Arab Tourism Organisation of the Arab League and Marwan bin Jassim al Sarkal, chief executive officer, Sharjah Investment and Development Authority.
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