UAE To Host Low Cost Airline Conference

Sharjah based Air Arabia was the first low cost carrier (LCC) to launch in the Middle East – in October 2003. Jazeera Airways followed, then Sama Airlines, Nas Airlines, and flydubai in June of this year. LCC’s in the MENA region have been benefiting from a large cost-conscious expatriate population, airport expansion plans, ideal geographic location and large amounts of available liquidity. The International Air Transport Association projects a $4.7 billion loss for the global air transport industry, but MENA may be the only region to have a positive demand growth – of 1.2 per cent for 2009.