However, right on their doorstep a different sort of airline has quietly, but steadily, been building its very own multinational empire, stretching all the way from Morocco to Pakistan and from Sudan to Armenia. It is barely 20 miles, as the crow flies, from Dubai’s downtown to Sharjah International Airport (SHJ), where Air Arabia has its main base.
However, Air Arabia's strategy could not be more different
Instead of trying to connect distant continents through a single massive hub, Air Arabia has focused on point-to-point flights to and from multiple bases. Rather than trying to offer the most luxurious experience up in the sky, Air Arabia has opted for the tried and tested single cabin, no frills, value model. The product and market overlap is limited enough that Air Arabia’s no-frills business model could be considered complementary to that of other full-service carriers in the region. This is the logic that underlies Air Arabia’s recent expansion into Abu Dhabi (AUH), where its partner is none other than the local carrier, Etihad.
This story is from the January 2023 edition of African Pilot.
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This story is from the January 2023 edition of African Pilot.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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