Jazeera Airways ready to take on regional legacy carriers

Jazeera Airways has confirmed that it has 30 more Airbus A320s on firm order and is ready to put its stamp on regional services in the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

Currently flying with ten aircraft to 30 destinations Stefan Pichler, Jazeera Airways CEO, this week emphasized the carrier’s focus on regional services as well as its ability to keep costs down.

Speaking to Emirates Business Mr Pichler said the low-cost carrier wasn’t looking to compete with long-haul “with the like of Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad” but that regional legacy carriers like Gulf Air was well and truly within its sights.

He also disagreed with the industry sentiment of splitting carriers into LCC and Legacy carriers, saying that low cost and low fares were two different things.

“The thinking in low-cost and legacy is very wrong. The airline industry is an asset-driven business, which means it costs a lot of money to buy an aircraft,” said Mr Pichler to the publication.

“If you are in an asset-driven business, you always want to have the lowest costs possible. Every airline across the world should strive for the lowest possible unit cost...There is some irrationalism in the industry.”

Despite pulling out of Dubai, the carrier is still looking to move forward with a twin-hub operations, as well as growing its product offering which now includes a business class offering.

Jazeera Airways is still aiming for a profitable financial year despite reporting a loss in the second quarter.