Driven by the aviation’s industry steady post-coronavirus recovery, and despite the pandemic’s lingering negative impact, Air Arabia registered a strong net profit of AED209million ($56.9m) for the three months ending September 30, a 575 percent increase from the same period last year.
MENA’s first and largest low-cost carrier’s turnover for the third quarter of 2021 increased by 174 percent to AED804m ($218.8m), compared to AED294m ($80.03m) in the corresponding period last year.
Air Arabia served over 1.9 million passengers in the third quarter from its five hubs in the UAE, Morocco and Egypt, an increase of 190 percent compared to the number of passengers carried in the same quarter last year. The average seat load factor, or passengers carried as a percentage of available seats, for the same quarter stood at 70 percent.
Results were driven by the easing of travel restrictions and the demand for air travel in what was the fourth consecutive profitable quarter for the airline since the pandemic.
Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohamed Al Thani, chairman of Air Arabia said: “Air Arabia’s solid performance in the third quarter of this year is a testament to the strength of the business model we operate and the customer appeal for our value driven product.”
“While we continue to operate under the impact of Covid-19 pandemic on the aviation industry, we are glad that Air Arabia has returned to double digit growth. This performance is supported by the gradual resumption of operations witnessed this year, especially in the third quarter, as well as the cost-control measures adopted by the management team since the start of the pandemic,” he added.
Air Arabia also reported a strong set of results for the first nine months ending September 30, 2021; registering a net profit of AED253m ($68.8m), a 219 percent increase compared to the same period last year.
The company’s turnover for the first nine months of 2021 exceeded AED1.8bn ($490.03), an increase of 42 percent compared to the corresponding period last year. Air Arabia served over 4.2 million passengers from all its five hubs in the first nine months of 2021, an increase of 34 percent compared to the same period of 2020. The average seat load factor for the same period stood at 80 percent.
Al Thani added: “We are confident that the gradual ease on travel restrictions and resumption of operations will continue to help the industry in its path towards recovery. Aviation is at the center of global mobility and continues to play a key role in the wider economic recovery”.
During the first nine months of the year, Air Arabia added 43 new routes to its global network and signed an agreement with Lakson Group, one of Pakistan’s leading business conglomerates, to launch a new low-cost airline based in Pakistan.
Earlier in July, Air Arabia Group also announced the signing of an agreement with The Armenian National Interests Fund to launch Armenia’s national airline “Fly Arna”. The carrier also partnered with Etihad Guest, the loyalty program of Etihad Airways to allow members of both schemes to benefit from reciprocal points and miles transfers.
Al Thani concluded: “While air travel volatility at current times remains a reality, we are confident of the global efforts made in this regard and hopeful that the steady recovery witnessed in the third quarter continues. Nonetheless, Air Arabia remains committed to providing customers with the world’s best value driven air travel while focusing on operational efficiency and cost control.”
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