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Air Arabia

Air Arabia Overview

Established in February 2003, Air Arabia was the first low-cost airline in the Middle East.

The airline broke even during its first year in business and launched an initial public offering for 55% of its stock early in 2007.

Air Arabia operates more than 200 routes across the Middle East, North Africa, Asia and Europe with a total fleet of around 75 aircraft.

It has six main hubs: Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Abu Dhabi, Morocco, Egypt and Pakistan.

Subsidiaries include Air Arabia Egypt, Air Arabia Maroc, Air Arabia Holidays and Air Arabia Cargo.

Air Arabia News

Air Arabia profit

Air Arabia Q3 profit up as turnover rises 10%

Net profit at Air Arabia rose 8 percent year on year to AED564 million ($153.6 million) in the third quarter of 2024, the Sharja-based airline has revealed, as it added new aircraft and routes. Turnover was AED1.8 billion, up 10 percent compared to the same period last year, while passenger numbers rose 8 percent year […]

Air Arabia's revenue increased 19 percent to AED1.65bn in Q2 2024, up from AED1.39bn a year earlier

Air Arabia profits slip even as revenues climb

Air Arabia’s profits declined in the second quarter of 2024, impacted by rising costs amid economic and geopolitical uncertainties. The UAE’s low-cost carrier reported a 7 percent fall in net profit, down to AED427 million ($116.3 million) from AED459 million in the same period last year. “The aviation industry continued to experience slower yield growth […]

GACA president Abdulaziz Al-Duailej said licences would be announced soon for more low-cost flights from regional Saudi airports

More low-cost airline routes planned for Saudi Arabia

Plans to privatise domestic airports have been announced by Saudi Arabia as part of an aviation expansion strategy, which includes imminent licences for more low-cost airline routes, the kingdom’s civil aviation authority said this week.  The General Authority of Civil Aviation has signed an agreement with a consortium led by the Turkish airport operator TAV […]

Air Arabia profit falls 22% amid fuel and currency woes

UAE carrier Air Arabia reported a 22 percent decline in net profit for the first quarter of 2024 compared with the previous year. It cited challenges such as fuel price fluctuations, currency volatility and a shift in seasonality as a result of Ramadan. The low-cost carrier reported earnings of AED266 million ($71 million) for the first three months of […]

The increase in flights from the UAE to Saudi Arabia was driven by growing demand from Umrah performers

UAE airlines increased Saudi flights during Ramadan

Weekly flights from the UAE and Saudi Arabia rose 13 percent to 383 in March, compared to 338 in February. The increase was driven by growing demand from Umrah performers during the last 10 days of Ramadan, which started last month, state-run Wam news agency reported, quoting the General Civil Aviation Authority’s (GCAA) statistics. Flydubai […]

Ryanair Morocco

Morocco denies subsidising Ryanair domestic flights

Morocco’s Ministry of Tourism has denied claims that it is subsidising the Irish low-cost carrier Ryanair’s expansion across the country. Ryanair will open domestic flights throughout Morocco from the summer as part of its $1.4 billion investment in the North African country. It had been reported that the Moroccan National Tourism Office would be providing […]

Aircraft, Airliner, Airplane

UAE carriers expand reach to 603 global destinations

UAE carriers were serving 603 destinations worldwide by the first quarter of 2024, compared to 586 at the close of 2023. The three percent increase reflects the rebound in the aviation sector and a surge in travel demand, state-run Wam news agency reported, quoting data released by the national carriers. Air Arabia leads with 215 […]

An Emirates flight at Cairo International Airport. Emirates last year launched a $200 million fund to produce sustainable aviation fuel

Passengers pay for aviation’s sustainability shortcomings

Penalties imposed on the aviation industry for failing to meet stringent sustainability targets will ultimately lead to higher air fares for passengers, according to an industry expert. “The customer is going to pay the extra cost,” said Wahab Teffaha, secretary general of the Arab Air Carriers’ Organization, speaking at the 11th annual Arab Aviation Summit […]

Air Arabia's total net profit for 2023 rose 27 percent year on year to AED1.5bn

Air Arabia remains upbeat despite profit drop in Q4

Air Arabia remains optimistic about the future of low-cost air travel despite reporting a drop in profit in the last quarter of 2023. Based in Sharjah, the no-frills airline reported a net profit of AED225 million ($61 million) in the fourth quarter of 2023, down 37 percent year on year in the last three months […]