05 January 2012

Air Arabia and Sharjah Commerce & Tourism Development Authority today officially inaugurated Air Arabia’s service to Russia at a high-profile event held in the country’s capital city, Moscow. The delegation was led by the Chairman of Sharjah Commerce & Tourism Development Authority H.E Sheikh Sultan Bin Ahmed Al Qassimi and the Chairman of Air Arabia H.E Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohamed Al Thani. 

Marking the commencement of service to Moscow, which the carrier currently serves three times per week, Chairmen of SCTDA and Air Arabia shed light on the business and tourism ties between the two countries and the role Sharjah plays in developing the strong relationship between the two nations.  Air Arabia and SCTDA delegation hosted a special event to mark the occasion and was attended by a range of Russian decision-makers, UAE Consul and diplomats in Moscow, travel and trade leaders and members of the press. During the course of the event, Air Arabia announced that, beginning December 28, 2011, it will increase the frequency of service to Moscow to five times per week.

In addition to offering non-stop flights to the Russian capital, Air Arabia also currently provides service to Yekaterinburg, its second destination in Russia and the fourth-largest city in the country.

Sheikh Sultan Bin Ahmed Al Qassimi, Chairman of Sharjah Commerce & Tourism Development Authority hailed the robust relations between Russia and the UAE, in particular the growing ties between Sharjah and Russia as the emirate attracts hundreds of thousands of Russian visitors each year and is home to a large population of Russian expatriates.   “Last year, Sharjah attracted more than 200,000 Russian tourists.  Until September this year, some 157,136 Russian tourists visited the emirate” Said Al Qassimi highlighting that this could grow further with the inauguration of this direct, low-cost air connection between Moscow and Sharjah.  “Possibilities of growth in this area are endless,” he pointed out.  
    
“We are very pleased to join hands with Air Arabia in launching its services to Moscow and the Russia Federation in-which it will further contribute to the sustainable tourism and economic growth of the Emirate.”

“We are delighted to be here in historic Moscow to inaugurate Air Arabia’s introduction of direct service from Sharjah,” said Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohammed Al Thani, Chairman of Air Arabia. “All of us at Air Arabia are grateful to our Russian counterparts for their ongoing support as we help forge even stronger bonds between our two nations, including on behalf of the significant Russian expatriate population in the UAE.” 

Al Thani continued: “we are extremely pleased to announce the increase in the frequency of service to Moscow to five times per week ;  therefore contributing to the increasing travel and tourism ties between the two nations by offering customers the choice for a great value and service.”

Air Arabia currently offers service to Moscow on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays, departing from Sharjah International Airport at 9:00AM and arriving at Moscow Domodedova Airport at 14:00PM. Return flights depart from Moscow on the same days at 15:00PM and arrive in Sharjah at 20:00PM.

The carrier offers service to Yekaterinburg on Wednesdays and Saturdays, departing from Sharjah International Airport at 10:05AM and arriving at Yekaterinburg Airport at 16:50PM. Return flights depart from Yekaterinburg on the same days at 17:50PM and arrive in Sharjah at 20:50PM.

To facilitate easy online bookings for Russian passengers, customers can access the Air Arabia website (www.airarabia.com) in the Russian language – or in Arabic, English, French, Italian, German or Spanish.