Jazeera Airways has managed to attain profitability again and maintain continued growth since the third quarter of 2010. Despite reducing flights to Syria this year, it continues to post record quarterly results. As a private airline, Jazeera does not receive the government support granted to some Middle Eastern carriers. It has to ensure it delivers profits to its shareholders. Large state-backed airlines argue that the benefits they bring to the wider economy outweigh the need to generate huge profits.

With that in mind, Jazeera pays close attention to its destination network, only looking to offer routes that are economically viable rather than being fuelled by political motivations. The success of its rights issue and its new profitability strategy will determine whether the airline continues to drive the move towards greater privatisation of the region’s aviation sector, or whether other airlines will take the lead

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