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Ashwini Phadnis

New Delhi , March 20

IF you are summoned at short notice for an urgent business meeting to Sharjah, don't bother scouting for the best possible airfare. Just head for Sahar International Airport in Mumbai and purchase a `Go-show' fare ticket of Air Arabia, the low-cost airline of Sharjah.

The airline is promising fares which are 10-15 per cent lower than that of conventional airlines for passengers who show up at the airport at the last moment. Air Arabia is to start a daily service on the Mumbai-Sharjah sector from March 26 and has announced an introductory one-way fare of Rs 2,999.

"The introductory one-way fare on the Mumbai-Sharjah route will be available for at least a month-and-half. However, the regular fare will be only about Rs 500 more than the launch fare," the airline's Manager, India, Mr Rohit Ramachandran, said.

The airline plans to sell at least 30 per cent of the seats on its 150-seater Airbus A-320 aircraft being used on the Mumbai-Sharjah sector at the lowest fare level that is currently pegged at Rs 2,999.

Besides, it also has an introductory one-way fare of Rs 5,242 to Kuwait, Rs 4,820 for Muscat and Rs 4,941 for Bahrain, all of which are substantially lower than what the conventional airlines charge, Air Arabia officials said.

The airline, which at present has permission to operate a daily flight to Mumbai alone, is also keen to operate to other points within the country. "Expanding into the southern parts of India will be a natural progression. Besides, we will also look at other cities which interest us and are not being served as yet by other airlines," Mr Ramachandran added.

Asked till when these low rate fares will be available, airline officials said their fares were governed by "demand" and the earlier a passenger booked the lesser would be the cost.

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