RAK Airways Begins Operation, Flights to Jeddah, Calicut from Oct 10
Report & Pics: Rajesh Sequeira
Daijiworld Media Network - Ras Al Khaimah
Ras Al Khaimah (UAE), Sep 26: RAK Airways, a national carrier of the UAE, has announced that it will resume services with two new routes next month with four weekly flights to Calicut (Kozhikode) and Jeddah.
RAK Airways’ chairman Sheikh Omar Bin Saqr Al Qassimi told delegates at a press conference here on Sunday September 26 that the rebirth of the airline would play a pivotal role in the promotion of the emirate as a destination in its own right, “The time is now right to play our part in the ambitious vision of Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qassimi, Crown Prince and deputy ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, for boosting tourism in the emirate,” he explained.
“Ras Al Khaimah presents a very compelling business opportunity with its healthy economy and stable political environment. The cost of living and doing business in Ras Al Khaimah is extremely competitive and we are perfectly positioned at the cross-roads of Europe and Asia. Just last year the emirate received the Financial Times Business Group’s award for ‘Most Attractive Place in the Middle East for Foreign Direct Investment’," Sheikh Omar concluded.
Chief executive officer Omar Jahameh explained that the two destinations had been carefully chosen. “Jeddah, of course, is the gateway to Saudi Arabia’s holiest sites,” he said, “Calicut in turn is the natural gateway to the Indian state of Kerala where so many of the UAE’s expatriate workers come from.”
Jahameh said that RAK Airways would be positioning itself in the niche market between the well-established commercial airlines and the more recently established low cost carriers. “Although our fares are extremely competitive we are focused on providing a value offering that differentiates itself from the low cost carriers. For instance, on every flight to and from Jeddah and Calicut, seats will be priced starting from AED10. In addition, we will be allowing passengers to take up to 30kg of luggage with them as well as the normal hand baggage allowance. They will also get a complimentary hot meal with beverages served on board.”
Sheikh Omar Bin Saqr Al Qassimi Omar Jahameh
“There will be one travel class throughout the entire cabin,” he continued, “and passengers will be able to choose their seats when they book, which they can do online, via travel agents or directly with our call centre.”
“In addition, to ensure Ras Al Khaimah International Airport is easily accessible for our passengers from Dubai or Sharjah, RAK Airways will provide a free shuttle service between the neighbouring emirates for each flight that we operate.”
RAK Airways’ new brand was also unveiled to delegates at the launch press conference. The re-branding of RAK Airways’ image was commissioned to coincide with the re-launch, “Our new brand reflects the new spirit of the airline - upbeat, full of character, fun and friendly however without compromise on safety or quality.
The new brand will help create a dialogue between the airline and the consumer which will be evident on all touch points of our communication from our newly launched website www.rakairways.com to baggage tags and uniforms,” explained Jahameh.
"RAK Airways aims to be the airline of choice through our ‘Small Fares, Big Deals offering’ and the operation will start on 10/10/2010 with the starting fare of 10 dhs," he added.
Speaking on the occasion Rajesh Sequeira, coordinator, Karnataka NRI Forum enquired whether the Jeddah-RAK route would be connected to Calicut, for which he replied, "We are working on the same strategy and we also have plans to include Mangalore-RAK route in the future"
About RAK Airways:
RAK Airways was established under Emiri Decree No: 3/2006 issued by Sheikh Saqr Bin Muhammad Al Qassimi, Supreme Council member and ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, in January 2006. The airline is a private joint stock company incorporated in the RAK Investment Authority Free Zone with an authorized capital of AED 1.5 billion.
RAK Airways chairman is Sheikh Omar Bin Saqr Al Qassimi and Sheikh Salem Bin Sultan Al Qassimi is the airline’s vice-chairman.