Exciting news awaits air travelers! Saudi Airlines is rolling out an extraordinary 50% discount offer for international passengers. This remarkable discount opportunity applies to tickets purchased until August 30, 2023.
The discount is applicable for tickets used between September and November, catering to both business class and economy class travelers. Saudi Arabia’s renowned national carrier is introducing this incredible offer on ticket prices to boost tourism and attract more visitors to the kingdom.
In yet another noteworthy international development, which is bound to bring relief to Kerala expatriates concerned about flight costs, Fujairah International Airport is now open to airlines for initiating flights to and from various Indian cities.
Ismail Al Balushi, General Manager of Fujairah International Airport, recently shared that the airport is ready to collaborate with Kerala to provide cost-effective flight services for expatriates residing in Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, and Umm al-Quwain Emirates.
Apart from regular services, the airport will also be available for chartered flights. This novel offering presents an alternative solution to address the pressing travel challenges faced by Indian expatriates.
The invitation to companies to initiate flights has been extended after ensuring seamless transport connectivity to any emirate in the UAE from Fujairah Airport.
Currently, Oman-owned Salam Air is the sole airline taking advantage of this opportunity to operate budget-friendly flights to Kerala via Fujairah Airport. Booking tickets two weeks in advance allows passengers to travel to Thiruvananthapuram for just 450 dirhams (approximately Rs 10,000). Salam Air also operates flights to Indian cities like Lucknow and Jaipur.
The flight to Thiruvananthapuram involves an hour’s layover in Muscat. The entire travel duration amounts to six hours. Booking in advance provides the opportunity to return to the UAE at the same rate. Flights via Muscat receive 100% patronage from Fujairah itself.
Given the circumstances, if direct flights to Kerala are launched from Fujairah, there is a high likelihood of attracting ample passengers, the official stated.
Fujairah airport authorities have already held discussions with Air India Express, IndiGo, Akasha, and SpiceJet. Air India officials have also visited the airport.
Purushothaman Vaidyanathan, Operations Manager at Fujairah airport, mentioned that all the airlines have shown keen interest in launching the service. The commitment made to these airlines is to minimize airport costs as much as possible. Flights from India to Sharjah, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi airports fly over Fujairah. Landing at Fujairah can reduce distance and fuel consumption for planes.
The first six hours of parking in Fujairah are free for flights. Additionally, an arrangement is in place to set an acceptable fee for airlines for parking beyond six hours. Standard parking can accommodate eight planes, and there are also 18 non-standard parking slots available. The passenger gates can handle up to 1250 passengers simultaneously. Passengers disembarking from the plane require a maximum of seven minutes to collect their baggage and exit, according to Purushothaman.
Departing passengers can also avail the convenience of city check-in from home or their residing emirate, allowing them to drop off their luggage 24 hours in advance. No parking fee is charged for vehicles within the airport premises, confirmed Business Division Officer Mohamed Shinaz.
Fujairah Airport, operational since 1988, recently commenced passenger services following a substantial period of renovation work. Runway re-carpeting has been successfully completed. Two new runways are in the pipeline for the airport. A new Air Traffic Control (ATC) center will be inaugurated in September to replace the existing one. Shinaz highlighted that airlines could save on aerobridge rental costs as passengers can directly board the aircraft from the passenger gate. “We are fully committed to assisting airlines in minimizing their airport-related expenses,” he emphasized.