Air Arabia
United Arab EmiratesLow-cost carrierSince 2003
Air Arabia is a publicly listed low-cost airline group based in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, and the first low-cost carrier in the Middle East. It operates about 90 Airbus A320-family aircraft from six hubs in the UAE, Morocco, Egypt and Pakistan, and carried 21.8 million passengers in 2025. It belongs to no global alliance.
Direct connection available on ReservationHub- Founded
- 2003
- First flight
- 2003-10
- Headquarters
- Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
- Country
- United Arab Emirates
- Main hubs
- Sharjah International Airport (SHJ) · Ras Al Khaimah International Airport (RKT) · Zayed International Airport (AUH), Abu Dhabi · Mohammed V International Airport (CMN), Casablanca · Borg El Arab Airport (HBE), Alexandria · Jinnah International Airport (KHI), Karachi
- Airline type
- Low-cost carrier
- Alliance
- None
- Loyalty
- AirRewards
- Ownership
- Publicly listed on the Dubai Financial Market since July 2007.
- Callsign
- ARABIA
- Website
- airarabia.com
How travel agents book Air Arabia
GDS distribution
Air Arabia signed a group-level distribution agreement with Amadeus, announced in October 2026, so travel sellers can book and manage its content through standard GDS workflows on the Amadeus Travel Platform. The connection links directly to airline systems in real time and uses a light ticketing model.
NDC
No public NDC programme details verified at time of writing.
Direct channels
Air Arabia sells through its website and call centre, and its route-launch announcements state that bookings can also be made through travel agencies.
On ReservationHub
Air Arabia is one of the direct airline connections listed on our integrations page, alongside GDS (Amadeus, Sabre, Travelport) and NDC content. Agencies get it in the SaaS platform; developers through the Travel API.
History of Air Arabia
Air Arabia was established by an Amiri decree from the Ruler of Sharjah, Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, on 3 February 2003 and began flying in October 2003. Its first route linked Sharjah with Bahrain, using two Airbus A320s that also served Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman and Syria. The airline broke even in its first year.
The company floated on the Dubai Financial Market, and its shares began trading on 17 July 2007. At the time it had nine A320s serving 35 destinations. Air Arabia then grew through joint ventures that opened new operating bases outside Sharjah, including Morocco and Egypt, and later Air Arabia Abu Dhabi, launched on 14 July 2020 with support from Etihad Airways.
In 2019 Air Arabia placed an order for 120 Airbus aircraft, comprising 73 A320neo, 27 A321neo and 20 A321XLR. The first A320neo from that order entered service on 1 October 2025, flying Sharjah to Bangkok.
The group reported a record 2025 result, carrying 21.8 million passengers and adding 30 routes across its six hubs. In September 2026 a consortium led by Air Arabia received an air operator certificate for a new low-cost airline based in Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
Milestones
- 2003Established by Amiri decree in February; first flight, Sharjah to Bahrain, in October.
- 2007Shares begin trading on the Dubai Financial Market on 17 July.
- 2019Orders 120 Airbus A320neo-family aircraft.
- 2020Air Arabia Abu Dhabi launches on 14 July.
- 2025First A320neo enters service on 1 October; group carries a record 21.8 million passengers.
- 2026Group-level distribution agreement with Amadeus announced; consortium wins AOC for a new Dammam-based Saudi airline.
Fleet
Aircraft types in service as of 2026
Air Arabia operated 90 owned and leased Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft across its hubs in May 2026, according to its first-quarter results. Its 120-aircraft Airbus order covers 73 A320neo, 27 A321neo and 20 A321XLR, with the first A320neo delivered in late 2025. The Abu Dhabi operation flies 12 A320s.
Network and hubs
Air Arabia uses a multi-hub model: three bases in the UAE (Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah and Abu Dhabi) and one each in Casablanca, Alexandria and Karachi. Amadeus described the group in 2026 as serving more than 200 routes and over 20 million passengers a year.
Routes focus on the Middle East, North Africa, the Indian subcontinent, Central Asia and Europe, with 30 new routes added in 2025. Air Arabia Abu Dhabi opened services to Amman City Airport in May 2026.
Air Arabia: frequently asked questions
What are Air Arabia's IATA and ICAO codes?
Air Arabia uses the IATA airline code G9 and the ICAO designator ABY, with the radio callsign ARABIA. Its sister operation in Morocco, Air Arabia Maroc, has its own IATA code, 3O, so agents should check which operating carrier and code apply to each flight when booking or ticketing.
Where are Air Arabia's hubs?
Air Arabia operates from six hubs: Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, plus Casablanca in Morocco, Alexandria in Egypt and Karachi in Pakistan. Sharjah International Airport is the group's original base and home of its head office.
How do travel agents book Air Arabia?
Air Arabia content is available on the Amadeus Travel Platform under a group-level distribution agreement announced in October 2026, which lets agencies book and manage flights with standard GDS workflows. Air Arabia also sells through its own website and call centre, and states that bookings can be made through travel agencies.
Does Air Arabia use NDC?
No public NDC programme details were verified at the time of writing. Air Arabia's 2026 Amadeus agreement is described as a direct, real-time connection to airline systems using standard GDS workflows and a light ticketing model, not as an NDC distribution deal.
Is Air Arabia a low-cost airline?
Yes. Air Arabia was the first low-cost carrier in the Middle East, launched in 2003 from Sharjah. It operates an all-Airbus A320 and A321 fleet, and early on it introduced a pay-as-you-go model for onboard services. Its new A320neo aircraft have 174 seats in a single class. Its loyalty programme is called AirRewards.
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Book a meetingSources
- Air Arabia — News and media centre (results, fleet and route releases, 2026)
- Air Arabia — About us
- Amadeus — Air Arabia signs group-level distribution agreement with Amadeus (October 2026)
- TravMedia — Air Arabia debuts on the Dubai Financial Market (July 2007)
- The National — When Air Arabia launched its first flight to Bahrain (October 2023)
- Gulf News — Air Arabia welcomes first Airbus A320neo (September 2025)
- The National — Air Arabia-led group cleared to launch budget Saudi airline (September 2026)
- TradeArabia — Air Arabia posts record 2025 profit (February 2026)
- AACO — Member airlines: Air Arabia
- IATA — Airline and location code search
- FAA — JO 7340.2N Contractions (ICAO three-letter designators and telephony)