Dubai Sharjah-based budget carrier Air Arabia said it will start flights from its third hub Alexandria in Egypt early next month as its Egyptian subsidiary has received an Air Operators Certificate (AOC) from the Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority, clearing the way for the launch of Air Arabia Egypt, the carrier's Alexandria-based joint venture.
"We are ready to start flights from the first week of June and the information is already in our system," an Air Arabia spokesperson told Gulf News.
This will be the third hub for the region's first and largest budget carrier, following Sharjah and Morocco.
Formed in cooperation with the Travco Group, the Middle East's largest travel and hospitality group, Air Arabia Egypt's operations from Alexandria's Burj Al Arab Airport will start in early June with flights to Khartoum and Kuwait.
The new carrier will serve Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Air Arabia's operations from Egypt will start with two aircraft.
Shaikh Abdullah Bin Mohammad Al Thani, Chairman of the Air Arabia Group, said: "Air Arabia is continuously expanding to offer a wider segment of customers the best value for money choice for air travel.
"We are confident that Air Arabia Egypt will pursue the success path that our hubs in the UAE and Morocco have followed, by complementing our ever growing network of destinations."
Building upon Air Arabia's present service to 60 destinations across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia, the new airline will contribute to the ongoing development of the Egyptian travel and tourism sector as well as offer a larger base of customers the best value-for-money air travel options.
Hamed Al Chiaty, Chairman and CEO of Travco Group, said: "We are delighted to announce that Air Arabia Egypt has received its Air Operators Certificate and we look forward to shortly providing service from our new hub in the heart of the Arab world.
"During this period of continuous growth and prosperity in the Egyptian Travel and Tourism sector, we are confident of the positive role Air Arabia Egypt will play in this respect. Travellers... will benefit from the value-for-money fares," he said.
