Winter warmers

As the temperatures drop we take a look at where's hot and where's not when it comes to tapping into new and upcoming destinations.

A raft of new destinations were launched by Middle East airlines for the summer ‘getaway' season, and as predicted by economic analysts, the region's low-cost carriers provided imaginative and wallet-friendly destination choices. At the same time, the legacy carriers did not hold back on bolstering their route networks despite the economic slump and it seemed that destination choices were not only being influenced by the summer season but also a change in consumer spending.

The same can be said for the winter months ahead, and as the temperatures fall and humidity subsides, airlines are hoping that new and imaginative destination choices will carry them through the ongoing economic crisis.

Of course, it is the low-cost carriers that continue to monopolise the market and despite flydubai still failing to confirm a start date for its Indian services it has confirmed network expansion into Africa, with the announcement of flights to Djibouti from September 1, 2009.

The new service will operate three times per week from Dubai and has been launched based on its commercial links with the UAE. At present, there are very few direct flights from Djibouti to Dubai and CEO Ghaith Al Ghaith said he was anticipating strong demand for the service from both the business and leisure markets.

Bordered by Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia, Djibouti has a long history as a trading port and is strategically located on the Gulf of Aden. As a tourist destination it is popular among scuba enthusiasts.

Air Arabia is looking to match or exceed its net profit results for the first half of this year and its strong network plans are expected to continue with aplomb. Its new holiday booking service opened up new opportunities to the pioneering carrier as it unveiled a range of low-cost holiday packages from its hub in Sharjah to various exotic destinations in Asia, the Middle East, Europe and North Africa. Rumours of a third hub opening in Beirut have also emerged placing the airline in a strong position to continue its domination of the region's low-cost sector.

Not only that, but just four months after its launch, Air Arabia Maroc, the airline's second hub in Casablanca has begun operating flights to Amsterdam Schiphol, using Airbus A320s. From October, the service will be upped to daily flights.

During the summer, budget carriers such as flydubai and Air Arabia flew millions of passengers to a number of Egyptian cities including Alexandria and Luxor. In particular, Kuwait-based carrier Jazeera Airways gave special attention to Egyptian destinations and its chief commercial officer Steven Greenway told Aviation Business that the country offered excellent business opportunities for the airline.

"We fly to six destinations in Egypt; Alexandria, Assuit, Hurghada, Luxor, Sharm El Sheikh and Marsa Alam. Egypt presents an excellent opportunity for Jazeera Airways given it is a relatively underserved market."

But as winter approaches, it seems the larger carriers have cottoned on to the rising popularity of Egypt. British Airways is preparing to muscle in on budget carriers' business by re-launching flights to Sharm El Sheikh in October. The airline will also commence services to another seasonal favourite, the Maldivian tourist hot-spot Male, it being the first time BA has flown to the Maldives.

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