Air Arabia (PJSC) reported strong financial results for the first quarter (January to March) 2019 as the Middle East & North Africa's first and largest low-cost carrier continued to deliver solid commercial and operational results. Air Arabia reported a net profit of AED128 million for the three months ending March 31, 2019, a 16 percent increase compared to the corresponding 2018 figure of AED110 million. In the same period, the airline posted a turnover of AED1,029 billion, a 17 percent increase compared to the first quarter of last year. More than 2.8 million passengers flew with Air Arabia between January and March 2019 across the carrier's four hubs, an 8 per cent increase compared to a total of 2.6 million passengers carried in the first quarter of last year. The airline's average seat load factor – or passengers carried as a percentage of available seats – during the first three months of 2019 stood at an impressive 84 per cent, up 3 per cent compared to the same period last year. Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohamed Al Thani, Chairman of Air Arabia, said: "Air Arabia's strong first quarter financial and operational performance reflects the strength of the business model we operate and the continuing customer demand for Air Arabia's value-added services. We have continued with our network expansion strategy in the first quarter of this year adding new routes and new frequencies across all operating hubs while driving cost margins lower." He added: "Oil price, geopolitical and economic developments continue to impact the trading conditions in the region, including the aviation sector. Nonetheless, we are confident of the long-term fundamentals of the aviation sector in the region, and the increased demand for affordable air travel that Air Arabia now serves across a wide geographic network in the Middle East, Asia, Africa and Europe." Air Arabia added five new routes from its hubs in the first three months of 2019 with flights commencing from Casablanca to Lisbon and Tunis; and from Sharm Al Sheikh to Amman and Luxor; and from Sohag to Riyadh. The carrier received its first Airbus A321 neo LR in April and announced the launch of direct flights from Sharjah to Kuala Lumpur starting July 1, 2019. Air Arabia now serves over 155 international and domestic routes from its hubs in the UAE, Morocco and Egypt. Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohamed Al Thani noted: "Air Arabia is driven by a clear strategy for growth, providing customers with more places to explore for less. As we continue with our expansion plan in 2019, we remain committed to investing in innovative products that provide unmatchable value while traveling by air." Air Arabia recently launched its new complimentary in-flight entertainment system 'SkyTime' that allows passengers to live stream digital content on smartphones, tablets or laptops while traveling with the carrier. The carrier also won "Best low-cost airline" award at the Oman Airports Awards event. — SG
