Air Arabia, the first and largest low-cost carrier (LCC) in the Middle East and North Africa, announced on Wednesday the purchase of two Airbus A320 aircraft, expanding the company's fleet size to 13, including 11 leased and two wholly owned aircraft. The purchase is not part of Air Arabia's announced purchase of up to 49 Airbus A320s announced in November 2007 at the Dubai Air Show. Air Arabia has expanded tremendously since its inception. In addition to the expansion of its fleet, the carrier has expanded its destination network to include 38 destinations throughout the Middle East, South Asia, North Africa, Central Asia and Eastern Europe. In India alone, Air Arabia serves 11 destinations. “We have undertaken this fleet expansion in order for us to provide our passengers even greater access to our growing destination network and competitive low-cost fares,” said Adel Ali, Board Member and Chief Executive Officer of Air Arabia. “The expansion of our fleet allows us to maintain our leadership role in the Middle East's low-cost carrier market, and to add new destinations and increase flight frequency.” Ali added: “The fact that our entire fleet is made up of A320s reflects the low-cost business model we follow. Dealing with only one type of aircraft results in simplified and efficient operations. Such operations mean the quickest and most cost-effective service possible, and savings passed on to our customers in the form of competitive fares.” The Airbus A320 is the aircraft of choice for Air Arabia, with its entire fleet made up of the model. The A320 is recognised as the benchmark single-aisle aircraft and features fly-by-wire controls and a containerised cargo system, which is compatible with the worldwide standard wide-body system. Over 5,450 Airbus A320 Family have been sold and over 3,200 delivered to some 200 operators worldwide, making it the world's bestselling commercial jetliner. The carrier plans to expand its fleet dramatically in the coming years. In 2012, Air Arabia is expected to take delivery of the first of up to 49 Airbus A320s, a purchase the carrier announced in November of last year at the Dubai Air Show. Kizashi 3 world debut NEW YORK – Suzuki Motor Corporation has announced that its concept “Kizashi 3” has made its international debut at the New York International Auto Show that is currently taking place. The sleek and athletic concept “Kizashi 3” is the latest addition to Suzuki's highly acclaimed series of concept cars that include the concept Kizashi and concept Kizashi 2. True to its spirit of innovation and challenge, Suzuki is now moving forward with the third phase of its world strategy, a phase in which it will enter the D-segment (midsize segment). The concept Kizashi series was developed to reflect a “dynamic athlete in motion,” taking its design cues from a strong, honed physique while displaying the performance, strength and style befitting a flagship vehicle. It symbolizes both Suzuki's future design direction and stated intent to enter the D-segment category. The concept Kizashi 3 represents a closer-to-production vision of a future Suzuki sport sedan offering. The concept Kizashi's “supersport” identity, a core component of the Suzuki brand DNA, is tempered by the design's overall impression of strong, refined urban performance. The global reveal of the new concept will be joined in New York by the North American debuts of the concept Kizashi and concept Kizashi 2, marking the first time the complete Kizashi series has been publicly displayed together. Mars GCC honored RIYADH – On the occasion of the “Arab Day for Standards,” Minister of Trade & Industry Abdullah Bin Ahmad Zainel honored Mars GCC (previously known as Master Foods) for the company's partnership with the Saudi Arabian Standards Organization (SASO) in support of a strategic workshop for standards under the slogan of ‘Participation of Companies'. Held at SASO headquarters in Riyadh on March 23-24, and jointly sponsored by the Minister of Trade & Industry and Mars GCC, the workshop, was followed by a symposium on the subject of “Standards and Quality.” The importance of the symposium was that it brought together key people and decision-makers in the field of standards and specifications of Arab manufacturing, who contributed the benefits of their specialized knowledge and took the opportunity to exchange experiences of the standards and specification programs in their various countries. Abdul-Hakeem Al-Hakeem, Mars corporate affairs manager in Saudi Arabia, said that this symposium is a major Arab initiative in the field of standards and specifications and that its goal is to enhance standards in the region in order to raise the quality of products and services for the benefit of consumers. In addition to SASO, the countries participating in the event were represented by Arab Industrial Development and Mining Organization, Egyptian Organization for Standardization and Quality, Palestinian Authority for Standards and Specifications, Sudanese Authority for Standards and Specifications, Tunisian National Institute of Standards and Industrial Property. Lufthansa Miles & More The Miles & More success story began in 1993 when Lufthansa launched its customer loyalty program with seven partners from the hotel industry and car rental business. Fifteen years later, Miles & More is Europe's largest frequent flyer progamme with a membership base of 15 million and over 200 diverse partners. No other frequent flyer program in Europe has as many members or offers so many ways of earning or redeeming mileage credits. To mark the program's anniversary, Miles & More members can expect even more opportunities for colleting and utilizing miles. With effect from May 2008 they can settle the airport taxes and charges as well as the fuel surcharge on German domestic and European flight awards with a simple flat rate payment of 10,000 miles. Miles & More members booking a flexible Economy-Class fare will earn 500 additional miles per round-trip. Members will receive double mileage for traveling via numerous new connections in the summer months. __
