Air Arabia boosts services to Saudi Arabia

Air Arabia, the Sharjah-based low cost carrier, on Monday announced the launch of additional services to Dammam in Saudi Arabia. With the launch of the additional service, Air Arabia will operate three daily flights to the city of Dammam from Wednesday. Adel Ali, Group CEO, Air Arabia, said: "The kingdom remains an important market for Air Arabia and we are proud to see Dammam services increased to three daily frequencies. "Driven by commercial needs, Air Arabia will continue to further expand its network in the kingdom and the region providing customers with a wider choice for value air travel." Air Arabia currently operates 51 weekly flights covering six destinations in Saudi Arabia. Air Arabia, listed on the Dubai Financial Market, currently operates a total fleet of 30 Airbus A320 aircraft, serving 70 routes from three hubs in the UAE, Morocco and Egypt. Last month, Air Arabia reported a seven percent rise in fourth-quarter net profit, as it introduced new routes despite a challenging environment with ongoing regional unrest. Air Arabia earned a net profit of AED78.7m ($21.4m) compared with AED72.27m a year earlier, the company said in a statement. The airline, which competes with regional low cost carriers such as flydubai and Kuwait's Jazeera Airways, delayed plans to establish a fourth hub in Jordan earlier this year.