Air Arabia suffers Q1 drop in profits

Air Arabia chairman Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohammad Al Thani said he was satisfied with the result as, like other carriers Air Arabia had been "adversely affected" by the impact of  political uncertaintainty.

But there were other issues that also drew his attention.

"Though the region has clearly shown positive signs indicating the emergence from the more serious effects of the global financial downturn, the rise in fuel costs continues to challenge regional carriers," Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohammad Al Thani, Air Arabia's chairman said in a press statement.

Air Arabia has subsidiary operations in Egupt and Morocco which both were greatly affected.

Al Thani said the revenue for the three-month period ended 31 March grew 6% to Dhs513 million. Passenger numbers also  increased by 11% to 1.2 million and load factor grew to 85% from 80% a year earlier.