Sharjah Airport based Air Arabia has commenced operations from its newest hub in Kathmandu, Nepal, with the launch of FlyYeti.com, Nepal’s first low cost carrier.
FlyYeti.com, a newly established low cost carrier in Nepal, is a joint venture between Air Arabia and Yeti Airlines, a leading domestic carrier in Nepal.
Air Arabia, a major shareholder in the new company, will apply its successful low cost business model to the management and operation of Kathmandu based FlyYeti.com.
“This newest hub will give air travellers who use Air Arabia access to new destinations in India and wider South Asia, as well as the Far East and Central Asia,” said Adel Ali, board member and chief executive officer of Air Arabia.
“Now people who wish to fly to these regions will have access to a competitive fare with the highest quality service possible via Air Arabia and FlyYeti.com,” he observed.
The new carrier started services from Kathmandu airport to Sharjah and Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, and will extend its operations to further destinations across south and central Asia, the Far East, Middle East and Indian subcontinent in the near future.
“The large expatriate population of Nepal living in the MENA, South Asia and East Asia markets will also benefit from the partnership and hub, giving these passengers access to the vast network of both airlines.
Ali forecasts rapid growth in the Middle East’s aviation sector. Currently accounting for eight per cent of the global air transport industry, Middle East based airlines are collectively growing at 10 per cent annually, double the global average of five per cent, according to the Arab Air Carriers Organisation (AACO) latest report.
Pointing out that, worldwide, one in every eight commercial flights is now flown by an LCC, Ali added that the Middle East will experience especially strong growth in the low-cost sector in the coming years.
“The Middle East is home to the youngest fleet in the world, with a total of more than 600 aircraft, and has the greatest number of aircraft on order anywhere in the world,” he said. “From the Gulf to the Levant, the sector is also experiencing unprecedented demand, with load factors averaging nearly 80 per cent.”