Air Arabia, the first and largest low-cost carrier (LCC) in the Middle East and North Africa, recently opened its first fully-dedicated sales shop in Tehran, Iran. The Sharjah-based carrier, which has provided direct flights to Iran since 2006, currently offers seven flights per week to Iran, including three flights per week to Tehran and four to Shiraz. It will offer enhanced customer services, including both ticket sales and visa services. By providing non-stop services to Tehran, the capital of Iran, and Shiraz, the country's technology and tourism hub, Air Arabia serves as a vital transportation link between the two countries, promoting increased tourism and trade between the Gulf and Iran. In the first six months of 2008, Air Arabia enjoyed a collective load factor on the two routes in excess of 82 percent, demonstrating the high level of demand for travel to and from Iran.
