Air Arabia, the first and largest low cost carrier in the Middle East and North Africa, has signed a firm contract for 34 Airbus A320 aircraft with an option for 15 more. The airline, based at Sharjah International Airport, United Arab Emirates, has yet to specify the engines to be installed on its new fleet.

The agreement will more than treble Air Arabia’s fleet, and underlines its stated ambition to increase its total operating fleet to over 50 aircraft by 2015 and become a world-leading airline.

Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohammed Al Thani, Chairman, Air Arabia said the decision to choose the Airbus A320 reflects the company’s objectives in continuously providing the best value for money services in the region. “Our vision is to be one of the world’s leading budget airlines in terms of profit margin, innovation, reputation, and operational excellence, and having the A320 at the heart of our fleet is the best and quickest way we can achieve this. The aircraft has an outstanding success record throughout the world and is ideal for our needs and those of our customers,” he said.

 “We are pleased Air Arabia is expanding with our A320 Family. The decision reflects the technological superiority of the A320, as well as the wider fuselage for operational efficiency and added passenger comfort with increased storage volume. The aircraft has the lowest operating costs in its class”, Tom Enders, Airbus President and CEO, said.

Air Arabia already operates 10 leased A320s, and serves a network of more than 37 destinations across the Middle East, North Africa, Indian Subcontinent and Central Asia. Launched in 2003 and based in Sharjah, Air Arabia has served more than 5 million passengers over the past four years.

Source: Airbus