Kuwait and Dubai-based Jazeera Airways, the Middle East’s only private airline, has increased passenger traffic at Kuwait International Airport (KIA) by 14% in the first half of 2007, thereby continuing to fuel the phenomenal growth of the airport.
Passenger traffic at KIA increased by 20% as a whole, with the remaining 6% growth attributable to all other airlines operating to and from the airport.
The 20-month old airline also announced that 50% of its customers had booked their flights on jazeeraairways.com – up 20% from last year, and gained a network market share average of 38.2% in the first half of 2007.
Jazeera Airways Chairman and CEO Marwan Boodai said, “So far 2007 is a very exciting year for us. We grew our fleet, launched our second hub in Dubai, began flights to 5 new cities, and kept bringing very low fares to travelers.”
“But the year is not over yet and we look forward to an even better second half with new hot and sizzling destinations and great low fares.”
In February, the airline was the first in the region to open a second hub in Dubai, essentially making it the first and only low-cost airline in the city. Travelers flying from Dubai have the choice of fourteen different destinations around the region, with direct flights to Kuwait, Bahrain, Muscat, Salalah, Delhi, Mumbai and Kochi.
The airline is poised for more growth, as it recently increased its order of new Airbus A320’s from 10 to 40. All Jazeera Airways aircraft are fitted with its signature leather seats.
© 2007 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
