An Emirati low-cost carrier is expanding its fleet with the acquisition of Airbus A320s.
Air Arabia Abu Dhabi, a joint venture between Etihad and Air Arabia, has purchased two A320s and plans to add two more by the end of this year. When completed, the acquisition will have increased the airline’s capacity by 40%, officials said.
“The addition of new aircraft and our strategic fleet expansion reflect our ongoing commitment to enhancing operational efficiency and expanding our network reach,” said Air Arabia Group CEO Adel Al Ali. “This growth supports the rising demand for air travel to and from Abu Dhabi. The planned capacity increase in 2025 will further contribute to the capital’s broader economic and tourism vision while continuing to offer value-driven air travel to our customers.”
News of the airline’s fleet expansion came only days after its low-cost competitor, Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, announced it would cease operations in September. The carrier’s parent company, Hungarian Wizz Air, said its business model was running up against significant hurdles in the Middle East, including regulatory issues, “geopolitical volatility,” and engine reliability constraints, which were made worse by the Gulf region’s extremely hot and harsh weather conditions.
Both Air Arabia Abu Dhabi and Wizz Air Abu Dhabi are based at Zayed International Airport in the United Arab Emirates, and they currently compete on routes to destinations like Alexandria, Egypt; Amman, Jordan; and Salalah, Oman.
Air Arabia Abu Dhabi recently added nonstop flights to Yerevan, Armenia; Almaty, Kazakhstan; and Sialkot, Pakistan. It now serves over 30 destinations in the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and Asia.
