Industry Air Arabia orders 120 A320neo Family aircraft
Air Arabia has signed a 120 Airbus A320neo Family aircraft strong order on Dubai Air Show 2019.
The order was inked in the presence of Air Arabia’s Chairman Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohammed Al Thani, Adel Al Ali, Chief Executive Officer Air Arabia and Guillaume Faury, Airbus Chief Executive Officer. A special signing ceremony was held at the Dubai Air Show 2019.
Air Arabia´s firm order comprises 73 A320neos, 27 A321neos and 20 A321XLRs. This further commitment for the A321XLR underlines Airbus´ strong position in the long-haul market for single-aisle aircraft. On DAS19, the manufacturer was able to collect further A321XLR orders.
As largest low-cost carrier in the Middle East, Air Arabia hopes to strengthen its route network. With the new state-of-the-art aircraft, the operator will be able to serve new destinations and different markets than before. Compared to the A321neo, the A321XLR offers a 30 percent increase of range.
Adel Al Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer of Air Arabia, said: “Air Arabia’s fleet growth strategy has always been driven by commercial demand and we are glad to announce today one of the region’s largest single-aisle orders with Airbus to support our growth plans. This new milestone underpins not only our solid financial fundamentals but also the strength of our multi-hub growth strategy that we have adopted over the years while remaining focused on efficiency, performance and passenger experience.”
Christian Scherer, Airbus Chief Commercial Officer said: “We are delighted to expand our partnership with Air Arabia, this is a great endorsement for the A320neo Family which will allow the airline to tap into new markets. We are committed to supporting the fast expansion of Air Arabia and the region”
“The addition of the A320neo, A321neo and A321XLR complements our existing fleet and allows us to expand our service to farther and newer destinations while remaining loyal to our low-cost business model. We look forward to working with Airbus and receiving the first delivery, ” concluded Adel Al Ali.
Air Arabia is a low-cost carrier from the United Arab Emirates. The carrier has its main hub at Sharjah International airport and was founded in 2003. Currently, Air Arabia operates with 38 Airbus A320s and three A321neos.