Khaleej Times

Air Arabia takes off to Sarajevo

- — business@khaleejtim­es.com Staff Report

sharjah — A senior Air Arabia delegation recently joined the carrier’s inaugural flight from Sharjah to Sarajevo as part of three-day programme to commemorat­e the start of flights to Bosnia and Herzegovin­a.

The delegation was led by the chairman of Air Arabia, Shaikh Abdullah bin Mohamed Al Thani and other Royal, official and trade guests who participat­ed in a series of events, highlighti­ng the importance of this new route to bilateral trade and tourism.

Flights to Sarajevo, the capital and largest city of Bosnia and Herzegovin­a, operate thrice weekly on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, departing Sharjah Internatio­nal Airport at 08.15 arriving at Sarajevo Internatio­nal Airport at 12:20. Return flights will leave Sarajevo at 13:10 before landing in Sharjah at 20:35. Starting 1st of July 2016, Air Arabia flights between Sharjah and Sarajevo will increase to six weekly flights.

Al Thani, said: “The launch of a direct Air Arabia service will make a significan­t contributi­on to strengthen­ing ties between the UAE and Bosnia and Herzegovin­a. During the three-day programme, we explored several opportunit­ies to foster visitor and trade growth between the two countries.”

Air Arabia’s move to start direct flights to Sarajevo from its main hub in Sharjah is aligned with the carrier’s strategic expansion throughout Europe, and is a significan­t addition to its existing network from its main Sharjah hub.

Adel Al Ali, group chief executive officer of Air Arabia said: “We are delighted to launch our non-stop services to Sarajevo, our first new route in 2016. The city is a popular tourist destinatio­n all year long and has seen increasing trade relations with the UAE in the past few years. We believe that this route will prove beneficial for both countries and increase connectivi­ty between the Middle East and Europe.”

Sarajevo is a historic city influenced by the Roman, Byzantine, Venetian, Ottoman and AustroHung­arian empires. Its booming tourism sector provides a wide range of cultural attraction­s, shops, restaurant­s and cafes. The scenic landscape that surrounds the city is also a prime destinatio­n for ski trips and adventure holidays.”

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