Carrier Operates Fleet Of Brand New A320 Jets
Kuwait-based Jazeera
Airways, which, until Saudi Arabia's National Air Service begins
scheduled service, remains the Middle East's first and only private
scheduled airline, announced Wednesday it has established a hub in
Dubai. Until now, Jazeera's only hub had been at Kuwait
International in Kuwait City, Kuwait.
Jazeera is now the only low-fare airline operating out of Dubai
International Airport.
The carrier operates a brand new fleet of Airbus A320s powered
by new CFM engines and fitted with all-leather seats.
The airline will conduct flights from its new Dubai hub to
Bahrain, Kuwait, Mumbai, Kochi, New Delhi, Muscat, and Salalah.
Scheduled service is slated to start February 8 with direct
flights between Dubai and Bahrain three times a week; the
remaining routes start up March 27. The airlines says travelers can
begin booking flights immediately through its website or calling
the reservations line.
Jazeera Airways Chairman and CEO Marwan Boodai announced the
news in a corporate launch held at Dubai Airport's Exhibition
Center. He said: "The commercial aviation sector in the Middle East
and especially the Gulf region is picking up speed and Jazeera
Airways aims to serve this growing market through establishing
multiple hubs in the Arabian Peninsula."
Boodai says his vision for the airline's future lies in its name
"Jazeera" which means "the Arabian peninsula" in Arabic.
To celebrate the airline's new hub it's offering seats for up to
one million customers from either of its hubs to any of its 20
destinations for $15. The only catch is the tickets must be
purchased by Wednesday at 23:59 local.
Boodai said Jazeera has learned short-haul customers in the
region started looking for low fares -- rather than beds --
for 90-minute flights, but adds he believes the airline made the
right decision in purchasing a brand new fleet of aircraft.
"Middle East travelers are different in that sense, they are not
willing to compromise on quality for the sake of a lower fare; and
neither were we, so our commitment to quality did not stop at new
aircraft. We made sure to fit all our aircraft with comfortable
leather seats, and last year we contracted Lufthansa Technik, one
of the leading global aircraft engineering firms, to look after our
fleet for the coming years."
Jazeera says it will continue to add to its list of destinations
throughout the year.