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| Founded | 3 February 2003 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commenced operations | 28 October 2003 | |||
| Bases | Sharjah International Airport | |||
| Alliance | Arab Air Carriers Organization | |||
| Subsidiaries | ||||
| Fleet size | 17 (+44 orders) | |||
| Destinations | 46 | |||
| Headquarters | Sharjah, United Arab Emirates | |||
| Key people | Adel Ali (CEO) | |||
| Website | www.airarabia.com | |||
Air Arabia is a low-cost airline based in Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. It operates scheduled services to 46 destinations in the Middle East, North Africa, the Indian subcontinent, Central Asia and Europe. Its main base is Sharjah International Airport.[1] Air Arabia is a member of the Arab Air Carriers Organization.
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History
Air Arabia (العربية للطيران) was established on 3 February 2003 by an Amiri decree issued by Dr. Sultan bin Mohamed Al-Qasimi, the Ruler of Sharjah and member of the Supreme Council of the United Arab Emirates, becoming the first low-fare airline in the region. The airline started operations on 28 October 2003 with the first flight from Sharjah, UAE to Bahrain International Airport. It issued a successful initial public offering for 55% of its stock early in 2007.[1] The airline is based at Sharjah International Airport.[1]
New Hubs
In addition to its key Sharjah hub:
- Morocco
Air Arabia in a joint venture with Moroccan investors have established Air Arabia Maroc and set up a secondary hub in Morocco's largest city,Casablanca; it began operations on 6 May 2009, allowing them to expand into Europe and Africa. A third hub is being pondered with Beirut Rafik Hariri International Airport said to be favored.
- Egypt
On 9 September 2009, Air Arabia announced Air Arabia Egypt to be based in Egypt.[2]. The airline will launch operations in March 2010.
- Nepal
In 2007 Air Arabia opened a new hub in Nepal's capital Kathmandu to serve Asia and the Middle East, with the signing of a joint venture agreement with Yeti Airlines, establishing a low-cost carrier, called Fly Yeti that provided affordable and convenient service to a broad range of international destinations. Due to the uncertain political and economic situation prevailing in Nepal, FlyYeti operations were suspended since early 2008.
Destinations
Fleet
The Air Arabia fleet consists of the following aircraft (at July 2009):[3]
| Type | In Service | Orders | Passengers (Economy) |
Routes | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbus A320-200 | 17 | 44 | 162 | Africa, Asia, Europe | All 17 leased |
| Total | 17 | 44 | |||
Incidents
On 6 May 2006 an Air Arabia aircraft, on lease from American International Airways, was damaged beyond repair (and thus written-off) after a fire in hangar 4 of Brussels Airport. All four aircraft in the hangar were lost in this fire[4]
References
- ^ a b c "Directory: World Airlines". Flight International: p. 52. 2007-03-27.
- ^ Air Arabia announced new Egyptian airline
- ^ Air Arabia fleet at ch-aviation
- ^ Aviation-Safety site on Fire in Brussels Airport, visited 10 May 2009
External links
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