Budget airlines are still banned from operating to Cairo, said Abdul Wahab Teffaha, secretary-general of the Arab Air Carriers Organization, a Lebanon-based industry advocacy group. Deregulation that has sparked competition in the Gulf still has a long way to go in some markets. A round trip ticket from Kuwait City to Mumbai, India, costs $800 on Kuwait Airways and $240 on Jazeera.Īviation experts say budget carriers’ success stems from the easing of government restrictions on competition. The same trip from Sharjah on Air Arabia costs $266. Emirates airlines charges $540 for a round-trip from Dubai to Thiruvananthapuram, India. On shared destinations, budget airlines are far cheaper than full service airlines. That’s considerably less luxurious than carriers like Emirates, which fly global routes and are known for first-class service. Jazeera offers a “Jazeera Plus” business-class equivalent. counterparts, from guaranteed seats and meals for purchase on board to free checked luggage up to 44 pounds. Mideast budget airlines offer services similar to their U.S.
