RAK Airways, which was launched in 2006, stopped operations in 2009 amid
a global downturn but resumed service a year later. Starting yesterday,
it again suspended all operations until further notice.
RAK Airways grounded, the Ras Al Khaimah International Airport wore
a deserted look yesterday, apart from two Russian passengers who had
not flown with RAK Airways and had been stuck at the airport since
Tuesday because of visa issues.
“RAK Airways’ load factor was steady across its
destination route map,” Ms Percy said. Before the carrier stopped its operations,
it flew to Doha, Peshawar, Islamabad, Lahore, Jeddah, Riyadh, Calicut and Kathmandu.
It carried 300,000 passengers in 2012, and improved the numbers by 40
per cent in 2013, said Elizabeth Percy, the corporate communications
director for RAK Department of Civil Aviation, RAK Airport and RAK
Airways.
Passengers were informed of the suspension, and according to
passengers’ requests, a RAK Airways team was working on rebooking them
or refunding their fares.
The airline’s fleet included two leased Airbus 320 aircraft.
In December, before it suspended the operations, one could fly to Riyadh
for Dh310 and for Dh360 to Islamabad one way, inclusive of taxes.
“The decision for suspending operations was taken following increased
pressures on the carrier’s performance due to continuous market
conditions, increased operating costs, and the impact of the regional
political instability on the overall aviation industry,” said the RAK
Airways board of directors.
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