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| Founded | 3 February 2003 | |||
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| Commenced operations | 28 October 2003 | |||
| Bases | Sharjah International Airport | |||
| Alliance | Arab Air Carriers Organization | |||
| Subsidiaries |
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| Fleet size | 22 | |||
| Destinations | 57 | |||
| Headquarters | Sharjah, U.A.E. | |||
| Key people | Adel Ali (CEO) | |||
| Website | airarabia.com | |||
Air Arabia is a low-cost airline with its head office in the Sharjah Freight Center, near Sharjah International Airport, in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
The airline is the first and largest low cost airline in the Middle East, Air Arabia operates scheduled services to 46 destinations in the Middle East, North Africa, the Indian subcontinent, Central Asia and Europe to 22 countries from Sharjah, 11 destinations in 10 countries from Casablanca and 5 destinations in 5 countries from Alexandria.
Its main base is Sharjah International Airport where it functions as a low cost conduit base, similar to low cost airport bases in Europe such as Rome Ciampino, London Stansted and Brussels South. Air Arabia separates it from many low cost carriers in that it offers connections to many flights at its base in Sharjah. It also offers some checked luggage at no cost. Air Arabia also has focus cities in Alexandria and Casablanca. Air Arabia is a member of the Arab Air Carriers Organization.
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. The airline was profitable from the first year of being in business. It issued a successful initial public offering for 55% of its stock early in 2007.
Subsidiaries
An Air Arabia Airbus A320-200 (2008)
Air Arabia has created subsidiaries for some international bases. The following countries have had or still do have subsidiary airlines based there:
Egypt
Air Arabia Egypt (2010–present) - On 9 September 2009, Air Arabia announced Air Arabia Egypt as a joint venture with Egyptian travel and tourism company Travco Group to be based in Alexandria, Egypt. The airline received its operating license on 22 May 2010, with commercial flights beginning 1 June 2010.
Jordan
Air Arabia Jordan (TBA) - On 7 June 2010, Air Arabia announced that they had signed a deal with Tantash Group to form Air Arabia Jordan which will be based in Amman, Jordan. The proposed airline will operate flights from Queen Alia International Airport to Europe, Middle East and North Africa.
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Morocco
Air Arabia Maroc (2009–present) - Air Arabia, in a joint venture with Moroccan investors established Air Arabia Maroc and set up a secondary base in Morocco's largest city, Casablanca; it began operations on 6 May 2009, allowing them to expand into Europe and Africa.
Nepal
Fly Yeti (2007–2008) - In 2007, Air Arabia opened a base 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
Air Arabia destinations
Fleet
As of January 2011, the Air Arabia fleet consists of 22 Airbus A320-200 aircraft with an average age of 3.2 years, which are all equipped with 162 passenger seats in an all-economy class cabin layout.The airline has ordered a total of 40 aircraft of this type.
Incidents and accidents
On 6 May 2006, an Armenian International Airways aircraft that was leased to Air Arabia at that time was destroyed in a hangar fire at Brussels Airport, along with four other airliners parked there.
On 25 April 2010, Air Arabia Flight 521 made an emergency landing at Karachi Airport due to a fire in the cargo hold and a subsequent formation of smoke. The plane landed safely at 4:10pm local time, with no injuries amongst the crew and 155 passengers onboard.
(source:wikipedia)
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