 | |||||||
| |||||||
| Founded | 26 October 2008 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ceased operations | 2021 | ||||||
| Fleet size | 3 [1] | ||||||
| Destinations | 5 [2] | ||||||
| Parent company | Yemenia, Al-Tayyar Travel & Tourism Agency, ICD, NTTB | ||||||
| Headquarters | Sana'a, Yemen | ||||||
| Key people | Mohammed Al-Arrasha (Chairman and CEO) | ||||||
| Website | www | ||||||
Felix Airways Limited, also known as Al Saeeda, (both meaning "Happy," from the Roman term for Yemen, Arabia Felix) [3] is a regional airline based in Sana'a, Yemen.
The airline was established in 2008 as a subsidiary of flag carrier Yemenia by the Islamic Bank for Development, to serve the growing market for low-cost travel in the region. [4] In late October 2008, Felix Airways began domestic operations with CRJ 700 aircraft, and expanded both domestically and regionally. [5]
Operations have been severely disrupted since 2015 due to the ongoing military conflict affecting its hub at Sana'a International Airport. [6] [7] From 2015 the airline, in common with the entire Yemeni tourist industry, suffered a near-complete reduction in activity due to the conflict and the siege in the region; Felix Airways flights were reported (in April 2019) to have declined from 55 to only 3 weekly flights. [8] The airline originally also had two Bombardier CRJ700s, but one was destroyed by bombing at Sana'a International Airport in April 2015. [9] [10] [11]
As of February 2021, Felix Airways serves the following scheduled destinations: [2]
As of January 2015 (before the air blockade), Felix Airways served the following destinations: [12]
| City | Country | Airport | Notes | Refs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abha | Saudi Arabia | Abha Regional Airport | ||
| Aden | Yemen | Aden International Airport | Base | [4] |
| Al Ghaydah | Yemen | Al Ghaydah Airport | ||
| Al Hudaydah | Yemen | Hodeida International Airport | ||
| Mukalla | Yemen | Riyan Airport | ||
| Ataq | Yemen | Ataq Airport | ||
| Dammam | Saudi Arabia | King Fahd International Airport | ||
| Hargeisa | Somaliland | Hargeisa International Airport | ||
| Jeddah | Saudi Arabia | King Abdulaziz International Airport | ||
| Mogadishu | Somalia | Aden Adde International Airport | ||
| Sana'a | Yemen | Sana'a International Airport | Base | [4] |
| Seiyun | Yemen | Sayun Airport | ||
| Sharjah | United Arab Emirates | Sharjah International Airport | ||
| Socotra | Yemen | Socotra Airport | ||
| Ta'izz | Yemen | Ta'izz International Airport | ||
As of February 2021, the Felix Airways fleet included the following aircraft: [1]
| Aircraft | In Service | Orders | Passengers | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | Y | Total | ||||
| Bombardier CRJ200ER | 2 | 8 | — | 50 | 50 | |
| Bombardier CRJ700 | 1 | 0 | — | 60 | 60 | |
| Total | 3 | 0 | ||||
As a direct consequence of the country's poverty, Yemen compares unfavorably with its Middle Eastern neighbors in terms of transportation infrastructure and communications network. The roads are generally poor, although several projects are planned to upgrade the system. There is no rail network, efforts to upgrade airport facilities have languished, and telephone and Internet usage and capabilities are limited. The Port of Aden has shown a promising recovery from a 2002 attack; container throughput increased significantly in 2004 and 2005. However, the expected imposition of higher insurance premiums for shippers in 2006 may result in reduced future throughput. The announcement in summer 2005 that the port's main facility, Aden Container Terminal, would for the next 30 or more years be run by Dubai Ports International brings with it the prospect of future expansion.
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Topics related to Yemen include:
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