UAE’s Air Arabia to launch direct flights to Kyrgyzstan’s capital Bishkek

Sharjah-based low cost carrier Air Arabia has announced plans to launch direct flights to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan’s capital city, from July 4, 2019.

The new service will operate four times a week – on Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

The flight will depart Sharjah International Airport at 9.30pm, arriving at Manas International Airport in Bishkek at 3.20am. The return flight will leave Bishkek at 4.20am, arriving in Sharjah at 6.40am.

Air Arabia will compete with flydubai, which offers flights on the route.

Adel Al Ali, group CEO, Air Arabia, said: “Ensuring affordable travel to meet the aspirations of travellers has been key to our network growth strategy over the years.

“We look forward to the start of service which we are confident it will positively contribute to the development of tourism and bilateral trade between both nations.”

The airline, which serves over 170 international and domestic routes from its hubs in the UAE, Morocco and Egypt, has been expanding its network and announced plans to launch direct flights to Tunis last week.

Read: UAE low-cost carrier Air Arabia launches flights to Tunis

It also recently reported a 16 per cent jump in first-quarter profit to reach Dhs128m, with revenue up 17 per cent to Dhs1bn.

The airline carried 2.8 million passengers, up 8 per cent year on year, and filled an average of 84 per cent of seats.

Air Arabia had reported a full-year loss for 2018 after booking impairments mainly attributable to its exposure to collapsed private equity firm Abraaj.

Read: Air Arabia Q1 profit up 16% as passenger numbers improve