AIR ARABIA / A320NEO / F-WWDV / 13212

Alain Charpentier
 

FLEET / ROUTES - Air Arabia welcomes its first Airbus A320neo aircraft

•The delivery marks the start of the airline’s 120-aicraft order with Airbus.

Air Arabia, the Middle East and North Africa’s first and largest low-cost carrier (LCC) operator, announced today that it has received its first Airbus A320neo aircraft from its order of 120 A320 Family aircraft placed with Airbus in 2019.

The brand-new A320neo joins Air Arabia’s current fleet of 83 Airbus A320 Family aircraft, marking the start of delivery of its 120 aircraft. The order, which consists of 73 A320neo, 27 A321neo and 20 A321XLR aircraft, underscores Air Arabia’s long-term growth strategy to expand its network, enhance environmentally responsible operations while strengthening its presence across key markets.

Air Arabia welcomed the arrival of its first Airbus A320neo aircraft with a special ceremony at Sharjah International Airport in the presence of Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohammad Al Thani, Chairman of Air Arabia, HE Sheikh Khalid Bin Issam Al Qasimi, Chairman of Department of Civil Aviation , HE Ali Salim Al Midfa, Chairman of Sharjah Airport Authority, and Mr. Adel Al Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer, Air Arabia along with senior members of the airline and the airport.

Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohammad Al Thani, Chairman of Air Arabia, said: “The delivery of the first aircraft from our Airbus order marks an important milestone in Air Arabia’s growth and fleet development strategy. As we continue to strengthen our fleet, we remain committed to operational efficiency, innovation and sustainability, while ensuring comfort and value for our passengers.”

He added: “Over the years, our existing fleet and cabin configuration has supported reliable operations and passenger experience. The introduction of the A320neo will further enhance our operational performance and support our continued expansion into new markets. We remain focused to adopting the latest technology to drive efficiency across all aspects of our operations”.

The aircraft will enter service on October 1st, 2025 with its first commercial flight between Sharjah and Bangkok.

This delivery is part of Air Arabia’s second direct order with Airbus, following the airline’s previous fleet expansion in 2007 with 49 A320 aircraft. The new aircraft order will support fleet strength across the group’s multi-hub operations, including Sharjah, Abu Dhbai, Ras Al Khaimah, Morocco, Egypt, and Pakistan (Fly Jinnah), complementing the airline’s existing leased aircraft and ensuring efficient operations across its growing route network. Additional aircraft deliveries are expected by the end of this year, supporting the airline’s fleet growth.

Powered by CFM LEAP-1A engines and equipped with Airbus’s signature Sharklets, the brand-new A320neo is expected to deliver a 20% reduction in fuel burn and CO2 emissions. These specifications directly support Air Arabia’s broader sustainability agenda and long-term growth strategy, reflecting the airline’s commitment to minimizing its environmental footprint while continuing to deliver exceptional operational performance and value-driven air travel.

Consistent with Air Arabia’s existing fleet, the new A320neo is configured with a single-class cabin layout featuring 174 seats, offering one of the most generous seat pitch in the economy cabin, ensuring passenger comfort. With a range of up to six hours, the aircraft not only enhances the travel experience but also provides Air Arabia with greater flexibility for further reach. The A320neo is also equipped with “SkyTime”, the complimentary in-flight streaming service, and “SkyCafe”, its onboard menu further enhancing the passenger experience across Air Arabia flights.

Air Arabia

AIR ARABIA OCT 2025 A320NEO OPERATIONS

Air Arabia tomorrow (01OCT25) once again schedules Airbus A320neo operation, initially operating service to Bangkok. For the month of October 2025, the 174-seater A320neo to serve following routes (effective dates are based on Sharjah departure).

Sharjah – Athens 05OCT25 – 25OCT25 7 weekly
Sharjah – Bangkok Suvarnabhumi 01OCT25 (one-time only)
Sharjah – Colombo 10OCT25 – 25OCT25 8 weekly
Sharjah – Istanbul 12OCT25 – 22OCT25 2 weekly
Sharjah – Male 03OCT25 – 25OCT25 3 weekly (4 from 11OCT25)
Sharjah – Phuket 02OCT25 / 04OCT25
Sharjah – Trabzon eff 03OCT25 2 weekly

Based on OAG schedules analyser, the airline previously lists A320neo schedule until March 2024.

FLEET - Air Arabia (UAE) has been leasing additional capacity as it waits for the 120 A320 family aircraft on order, with initial neo deliveries now anticipated in 2H 2025, followed by A321XLRs from 2027.

 Image: Air Arabia

2020.AIRBUS HAMBURG-Finkenwerder (Finki) - 9 APRIL 2020

Thank you so much Dirk Grothe (continue) sharing your photos at this very difficult time for the whole world

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Dirk Grothe | Aviation Photohotographer

Hamburg, Germany

6,000th A320 Family delivery

Airbus marks delivery of its 6,000th A320 Family aircraft – a Sharklet-equipped A320 received by Air Arabia – during a ceremony in Hamburg, Germany

Ras Al Khaimah Department of Civil Aviation inks partnership deal with Air Arabia

Photo:Paul Denton - Sharjah Int'l -A6-ANB

 

 

Department of Civil Aviation (DCA), Ras Al Khaimah announced today that it has signed a strategic partnership with Air Arabia, enabling the airline to become the Emirate’s designated carrier operating services from Ras Al Khaimah International Airport. Connecting Ras Al Khaimah to several destinations in the region, the major new collaboration is set to witness a significant increase in the number of destinations accessible to residents of Ras Al Khaimah and neighboring Northern Emirates.

The launch of partnership between the low-cost pioneer and the Department of Civil Aviation, RAK is expected to support Ras Al Khaimah’s standing as an attractive tourist destination, while acting as a key catalyst for the further economic development of the Emirate. The development also means that Air Arabia now becomes the official carrier of Ras Al Khaimah Emirate.

 Describing the partnership as a “unique collaboration,” His Excellency Engr. Sheikh Salem Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairman, Department of Civil Aviation (DCA), Ras Al Khaimah said: “Today’s announcement is a natural step in the next stage of Ras Al Khaimah’s aviation development, driven by the Emirate’s steady economy, expanding population, growing industrial activity, and tourism. We are delighted to be entering into a strategic agreement with an extremely successful airline and are confident about the benefits this partnership will bring to the Emirate of Ras al Khaimah.”

 He added: “As Ras Al Khaimah continues to position itself as an attractive tourist destination, we are confident that this partnership will help us achieve our long-term goals, benefiting from Air Arabia’s operational track record, impressive network and management expertise.”

Adel Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer of Air Arabia said: “Joining hands with DCA, Ras Al Khaimah in this new partnership aims at further developing the aviation industry in the northern Emirates and support Ras Al Khaimah’s ambitious economic plans. The Emirate’s tourism sector is witnessing a strong and steady growth and we are optimistic that this will continue to grow in the years to come.”
Ali continued: “The major collaboration is a true reflection of the strength of the UAE aviation infrastructure and potential growth. Furthermore, we are extremely confident that the launch of Air Arabia’s operations in Ras Al Khaimah Airport will further transform the travel and tourism sectors in the Emirate as well as provide customers with great accessibility and value for money air travel.”

Established in October 2003, Air Arabia PJSC, listed on the Dubai Financial Market, currently operates services to 90 destinations covering the Middle East, North Africa, Europe and the Indian Subcontinent from three operating hubs in Sharjah, UAE; Alexandria, Egypt; and Casablanca, Morocco. 

The Department of Civil Aviation, Ras Al Khaimah is responsible for operation and regulation of the air transport system in Ras Al Khaimah. The DCA was established in 1974 to support the Emirate’s economic and social development.
AIR ARABIA

 

A decade of flying high: Air Arabia celebrates anniversary

Air Arabia, the first and largest low-cost carrier (LCC) in the Middle East and North Africa, today celebrates ten years of successful operations which has revolutionised the air travel industry in the Arab world. As the first low-cost carrier in the region, the anniversary also marks the completion of a first decade of low-cost aviation in the Middle East and North Africa region.

Air Arabia has experienced massive, sustained growth since October 2003, when it introduced a new way of taking flight to the Arab world. From the earliest days of serving five destinations with just a pair aircraft, the airline has grown to operate 86 destinations that spread across the Middle East and North Africa, Europe and Indian Subcontinent, served by 34 aircraft today.

To commemorate the occasion, Adel Ali, the airline’s Group Chief Executive Officer, addressed a media gathering in Dubai, where he highlighted that Air Arabia, in its second decade, aims to continue leading the low cost travel segment in the MENA region, and enter new ventures and embark on further expansion to all airports in the Arab world.

Ali said: “By reducing the cost of air travel, and therefore revolutionising the air travel in the region, we have created opportunities for more people to travel in the past decade. Ten years ago, we couldn’t have anticipated how rapidly Air Arabia would grow, or how dramatically our pioneering low-cost model would change how, when and at what price people would travel here in the Arab world.”

“The past decade has been a remarkable journey for all of us at Air Arabia – including our employees and, of course, our loyal passengers,” Ali continued. “On behalf of everyone at Air Arabia, I thank Governments, Airports and Civil Aviation Authorities in the UAE and across our network for ten years of continuous support.”

Having now served over 37 million passengers – connecting them with friends and families – Air Arabia is firmly established as one of the rare success stories in the region, and a strong participant in the region’s skies. The airline’s steady growth has always been driven by significant value to its loyal customer base, with its philosophy of offering value for money services and greater connectivity across its award-winning route network.

Ali concluded: “As we enter into the second decade, we will continue to work hard to become the most preferred airline serving all airports in the Arab world, stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to Indian Ocean, whilst focusing on providing efficiency and superior customer comfort.”

Air Arabia, the first publicly listed airline in the Arab world and the largest airline by market value, today serves 86 destinations from three operational hubs in the UAE, Morocco and Egypt. The carrier’s existing fleet consists of 34 aircraft with 10 additional aircraft planned to join the fleet in 2014.

As part of the anniversary celebrations, Air Arabia also unveiled a special Airbus A320 aircraft, featuring a unique 10-year livery to signify the carrier's entry into its second decade. The commemorative aircraft will shuttle between the original launch destinations served by Air Arabia when it began operations in October 2003.

AIR ARABIA - A320-200 - CN-NMB

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Air Arabia selecciona Sharklets para a sua nova frota de A320

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