Air Arabia to start service to Basra, Iraq

The carrier will offer three weekly services between Sharjah and Basra. On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, flights depart from Sharjah International Airport at 08:20 and arrives Basra International Airport at 09:15. Return flights will depart from Basra on the same days at 09:55 and arrive in Sharjah at 12:40 (local time).

“We are pleased to announce the launch of our services to Basra, our third destination in Iraq after Najaf and Erbil. This step reflects the commitment we place on serving the Iraqi market” said Adel Ali, group chief executive officer, Air Arabia.

“This new service will further strengthen our current flights to Iraq and offer customers wider choice of affordable air travel; and at the same contribute to the trade and tourism ties between the UAE and Iraq.” Ali continued.

The new service to Basra will increase the number of flights Air Arabia operates to Iraq to 18 weekly flights.

Analyst Saj Amhad commented: "Air Arabia is capitalising on the resurgent economic growth in southern Iraq and their additional flights to the country will serve not just as a boon for customers who now have yet another low cost airline serving the city, it also paves the way for Air Arabia to look at other key Iraqi cities like Baghdad for the next phase of expansion.
 
"Iraq, like Saudi Arabia, has become a thriving country for air travel, especially while Iraqi Airways is mired in trouble - customers and passengers can ill afford to wait for them to grow so it's only natural that other airlines will come in a address that demand pool, which is precisely what Air Arabia is doing. With three Iraqi routes under its belt, Air Arabia continues to maintain an edge over its nearby Emirati rival in flydubai. Together, these two airlines have been wonderfully quick to step into new markets that are woefully underserved."