United Arab Emirates (UAE) airline, Air Arabia, revealed its plans to launch daily flights to Kabul, marking the second Emirati airline to connect with the Afghan capital. The budget carrier, headquartered in Sharjah, is set to operate non-stop flights to and from Kabul starting January 10, as stated in their official announcement.
Adel Al Ali, the group CEO, emphasized the significance of this service, stating that it reflects their ongoing commitment to providing passengers with affordable and value-driven air travel options, along with introducing new destinations for exploration.
This development follows the lead of flydubai, another low-cost Emirati airline, which became the first international carrier to resume flights to Afghanistan after the turbulent withdrawal of US forces in 2021. The chaos surrounding the evacuation resulted in substantial damage to Kabul’s airport, and a tragic suicide bombing claimed the lives of over 170 people, including 13 US troops.
The restoration of full operations at Kabul’s airport is deemed crucial for the economic recovery of Afghanistan. Currently, Afghanistan’s Kam Air and Ariana Afghan Airlines, alongside flydubai, operate limited services from Kabul to various destinations such as Dubai, Moscow, Islamabad, and Istanbul.
In a significant move last year, the UAE-based company GAAC secured a contract to manage Afghanistan’s air traffic, signaling an anticipated return of international airlines to the region.
