Air Arabia is still waiting for approvals to fly to India from Ras Al Khaimah following the closure of RAK Airways, which had operated to the country until last year.
But that is not stopping the region's biggest low-cost carrier from expanding elsewhere in south Asia. Air Arabia said it would fly three times per week to Chittagong in Bangladesh from next month.
Air Arabia started flying from the northernmost emirate in May after RAK Airways, the emirate’s flag carrier, ceased operations six months earlier. The new hub is its second in the UAE and the fourth worldwide.
“We are still waiting. Every week we write to them and they say wait for a few days,” said Mohammed Qazi, RAK Airport’s chief executive. “We hope to get the approvals very soon, as it affects people in the Northern Emirates.”
In the meantime, the carrier is looking at other regional destinations to add new routes.
“Chittagong is a tried and tested route by RAK Airways. We are very happy to operate this route again by Air Arabia,” said Mr Qazi.
“We are looking at the moment at Nepal and Qatar,” Mr Qazi added, referring to popular routes that were previously operated by RAK Airways.
Air Arabia currently offers direct services to Jeddah, Cairo, Muscat, Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar and Dhaka from its RAK hub.
Last month, the airport revised down passenger forecasts this year. Currently, it expects to handle 250,000 passengers, compared to the 400,000 passengers that it previously anticipated.
Air Arabia second-quarter profit jumped 128 per cent amid cost- cutting and higher passenger numbers. Net income increased to Dh173 million in the three months ending June 30, compared with Dh76m a year earlier. Turnover increased 15 per cent to Dh915m in the second quarter versus Dh797m last year.
The airline served more than 1.6 million passengers in the second quarter, an increase of 8 per cent compared with the 1.5 million passengers carried a year earlier.
“We are still waiting for the India authorities to fly to the country from RAK,” said an Air Arabia spokesman. “We will start by flying to Calicut and we hope to grow to other cities.”
selgazzar@thenational.ae
Follow The National's Business section on Twitter
Guide to intelligent investing
Investing success often hinges on discipline and perspective. As markets fluctuate, remember these guiding principles:
- Stay invested: Time in the market, not timing the market, is critical to long-term gains.
- Rational thinking: Breathe and avoid emotional decision-making; let logic and planning guide your actions.
- Strategic patience: Understand why you’re investing and allow time for your strategies to unfold.
The%20pillars%20of%20the%20Dubai%20Metaverse%20Strategy
%3Cp%3EEncourage%20innovation%20in%20the%20metaverse%20field%20and%20boost%20economic%20contribution%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EDevelop%20outstanding%20talents%20through%20education%20and%20training%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EDevelop%20applications%20and%20the%20way%20they%20are%20used%20in%20Dubai's%20government%20institutions%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EAdopt%2C%20expand%20and%20promote%20secure%20platforms%20globally%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EDevelop%20the%20infrastructure%20and%20regulations%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The alternatives
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.
• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.
• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.
• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.
The specs: 2017 Maserati Quattroporte
Price, base / as tested Dh389,000 / Dh559,000
Engine 3.0L twin-turbo V8
Transmission Eight-speed automatic
Power 530hp @ 6,800rpm
Torque 650Nm @ 2,000 rpm
Fuel economy, combined 10.7L / 100km
