By Macharia kamau
Low cost carrier Air Arabia has posted a 21 per cent increase in it’s profit for the six months ending June 31 to Sh4.02 billion (93million dirhams) compared to Sh3.34 billion last year.
Its half-year turnover rose six per cent to Sh19.22 billion from Sh18.16 billion last year.
In a statement, the airline’s Managing Director Adel Ali said its nofrills business model had appealed to travellers looking for affordable means and seen increase in the passenger numbers as well as revenues.
‘‘Tough economic conditions continue to impact on the global aviation sector and our growth figures demonstrate the fundamental strength of the airline’s business model,’’ he said.
The airline carried 1.95 million passengers in the first six months of this year, up 20 per cent from 1.6 million during the same period last year.
Challenging times
Last year, the United Arab Emirates based airline, launched flights between Nairobi and its hub at Sharjah International Airport. It operates four flights every week on the route. Ali added that the remaining six months of the year might be a challenge given the economic conditions and the H1N1 virus pandemic that might see the aviation sector witness further decline in passengers.
‘‘The coming period continues to add pressure on the aviation sector . We, therefore, remain focused on maintaining highest levels of operational cost efficiency,’’ he said.
‘‘Since October, the airline has recorded a steady increase in passenger numbers,’’ says the Air Arabia GSA chairman James Kimonye, the airline’s Kenyan partner.
Kimonye says many Kenyans and other international travellers have embraced the airline’s low cost business model.
Strategic plan
‘‘With the tagline of pay less, fly more, we continue to operate from our main offices at Rehema House, Westlands, and town office at Loita Street and Mombasa’s Nkrumah road office,’’ added Kimonye.
Country manager for Kenya Alatif Anwar Asjad said the airline’s board continues to be optimistic that the ‘‘passenger load will increase to fit in with our strategic plan of launching extra flights per week by year-end from Nairobi.
This will serve better the connectivity from Sharjah to all other destinations.’’
In May the airline launched a hub in Morocco, Casablanca to serve European capitals with the current seven flights from the city serving nine destinations, among them London, Brussels, Amsterdam, and Leone among others.
