Air Arabia has been recognised at the first Aviation Achievement Awards for launching the MENA region’s first ever low-cost carrier (LCC) rewards programme. The airline took home the “Award for Customer Innovation” for Airewards, its customer loyalty program, which represented a major step forward in how LCC’s engage with customers when it was introduced in March 2015.

The programme is designed to offer the same simple, transparent and value-packed experience that customers associate with Air Arabia. Points are based on money spent rather than distance flown, and can be earned on any product or service purchased from the airline. Points can be redeemed through a variety of payment and reward options, with no blackout dates or limitations on availability.

The award recognises a number of features specifically designed with Air Arabia’s customer base in mind. Points can be earned and shared with anyone, while for passengers who fly frequently for business and then occasionally with their whole family, Airewards offers a dedicated “Family Account” for up to eight relatives to enable faster earning and quicker redemption.

Adel A. Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer of Air Arabia, said: “Airewards continues Air Arabia’s proud tradition of bringing innovations to the region’s aviation sector. Since its launch earlier in 2015, the programme has proved to be a hugely popular value-add to our existing proposition, cementing our position as the region’s leading low-cost carrier.”

2015 has been an award-winning year for Air Arabia following being named “Best Low-cost Airline in the Middle East” at the annual Skytrax World Airline Awards in France, and “Best Low-Cost Carrier” at the 2015 World Tourism Forum Awards in Turkey.

Held at the Burj Al Arab in Dubai, the inaugural Aviation Achievement Awards were organised by ITP as part of the Gulf Aviation Networking Event 2015.