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Air Arabia

ICAO: ABY IATA: G9 Active as of Jan 31, 2026

Airline Statistics

189

Active Routes

5584

Flight Observations

93

Unique Destinations

88

Origin Airports

1510

Avg Route Distance (mi)

3444

Longest Route (mi)

0

Domestic Routes

100

International Routes

About Air Arabia

**

Air Arabia is an Emirati low-cost airline, distinguished as the first low-fare airline in the Middle East. It was established on February 3, 2003, by an Amiri decree issued by the Ruler of Sharjah, Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi, and commenced operations on October 28, 2003. The airline quickly broke even within its first year, demonstrating a strong business model focused on affordable air travel.

The airline's primary operational base and main hub is Sharjah International Airport in the UAE. Air Arabia has expanded its presence significantly, operating from additional hubs in Ras Al Khaimah (UAE), Abu Dhabi (UAE), Alexandria (Egypt), Casablanca (Morocco), and Karachi (Pakistan), reflecting its multi-hub, multi-airline strategy. This extensive network allows the airline to offer scheduled services to over 200 destinations across more than 50 countries, spanning the Middle East, North Africa, the Indian subcontinent, Central Asia, and Europe.

Air Arabia operates a modern and efficient fleet, primarily consisting of Airbus A320 and A321 Neo LR aircraft. As of November 2025, its fleet includes 79 Airbus A320 and 9 A321 Neo LR aircraft, with a significant order for 120 new A320 Family aircraft scheduled for delivery starting in the third quarter of 2025. While Air Arabia is not a member of any major global airline alliance (like Star Alliance, SkyTeam, or Oneworld), it has established codeshare agreements with other carriers such as Etihad Airways, Turkish Airlines, and Pegasus Airlines to enhance connectivity for its passengers. As a low-cost carrier, Air Arabia primarily offers an economy class experience, noted for providing one of the most spacious economy cabin seat pitches globally. Notable services include the AirRewards loyalty program, which offers points based on spending, and the "SkyTime" free in-flight streaming entertainment system, accessible on personal devices. Passengers can also pre-book baggage, select seats, order meals from the "SkyCafe" menu, and purchase travel insurance.

Traveler Reviews

Recent traveler reviews for Air Arabia present a mixed but generally acceptable picture, often emphasizing its low-cost model.

What Travelers Love:**

  • Reasonable Fares/Value for Money: Many travelers consistently praise Air Arabia for its competitive and affordable ticket prices, making travel accessible.
  • Punctuality: Several passengers have noted the airline's good on-time performance and efficient boarding processes.
  • Cleanliness and Seat Comfort: Reviewers often mention the cleanliness of the aircraft and, for a budget airline, appreciate the relatively spacious and comfortable seats, particularly on newer Airbus models.
  • Professional Cabin Crew: Some travelers have described the cabin crew as efficient, pleasant, professional, and supportive.

Common Complaints:

  • Baggage Policy and Charges: A frequent source of dissatisfaction revolves around strict and sometimes inconsistently applied baggage policies, including carry-on limits, leading to unexpected and often high charges at the airport.
  • Customer Service Issues: Many complaints highlight difficulties with customer service, including unhelpful ground staff, poor assistance during flight disruptions, and challenges in resolving complaints or securing compensation.
  • Flight Delays and Cancellations: A recurring negative theme is significant flight delays and cancellations, which have resulted in missed connections and inadequate support or re-routing options for stranded passengers.
  • Limited In-Flight Amenities: As a low-cost carrier, the absence of complimentary in-flight entertainment screens (though streaming to personal devices is available via "SkyTime") and basic amenities like free water on international flights are noted by some.

Overall sentiment summary: While Air Arabia is highly valued for its economical fares, a considerable number of travelers express frustration with its strict baggage policies, perceived inconsistencies in service, and challenges with customer support, particularly when flights are disrupted. Despite these issues, the airline is often seen as a practical choice for budget-conscious travelers due to its punctuality and generally well-maintained aircraft.

**

Safety Information

Air Arabia maintains a commendable safety record, reflecting its commitment to operational standards. The airline holds a top 7/7 safety rating from AirlineRatings.com, indicating a strong performance in safety evaluations. This rating is based on a comprehensive assessment that includes factors such as serious safety incidents, fleet age, fatalities per million sectors flown, and adherence to international regulatory certifications like IOSA and ICAO**.

The airline has been recognized among the safest carriers worldwide in the trusted 2025 global airline safety rankings by AirlineRatings.com. In terms of incidents, publicly available records mention minor occurrences such as hydraulic failures, a co-pilot turning in the wrong direction on a runway, and bird strikes. However, there are no reports of fatal accidents involving Air Arabia in the provided information. Air Arabia's subsidiary, Air Arabia Maroc, was subject to an EASA investigation in late 2024 concerning alleged safety violations related to scheduling and fatigue management, though EASA declined to comment on the outcome.

Air Arabia operates a modern fleet of Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft, known for their efficiency and reliability. The airline is recognized for consistent safety compliance and maintaining a modern fleet, with a reputation for operational excellence and high on-time performance. Further emphasizing its commitment to safety and efficiency, Air Arabia was honored with the 'Corporate Award in the Airline Category' at the 2024 OPS Forum, acknowledging its dedication to enhancing operational excellence, reliability, and customer satisfaction.

Compiled by AirportRoutes.com • Updated 2 months ago

Route Network Map

Click on any airport to see its routes

Most Popular Routes

166 flights
A320
148 flights
A320
112 flights
A320
107 flights
A320
SHJ → DAC
Sharjah International Airport → Shahjalal International Airport
2190 miles
98 flights
A320
91 flights
A320
89 flights
A320
87 flights
A320
SLL → SHJ
Salalah Airport → Sharjah Int'l
581 miles
87 flights
A320
ELQ → SHJ
Gassim Airport → Sharjah Int'l
734 miles
86 flights
A320

Top Destinations

SHJ (OMSJ)
Sharjah Int'l
Sharjah
2604 flights
84 routes
DOH (OTHH)
Hamad Int'l
Doha
148 flights
1 route
RKT (OMRK)
Ras Al Khaimah Int'l
Ras al
128 flights
7 routes
BAH (OBBI)
Bahrain Int'l
Manama
112 flights
1 route
CAI (HECA)
Cairo Int'l
Cairo
105 flights
2 routes
DME (UUDD)
Domodedovo Int'l
Moscow
100 flights
2 routes
DAC (VGHS)
Shahjalal International Airport
Dhaka
98 flights
1 route
CCJ (VOCL)
Calicut Int'l (Karipur)
Kozhikode (Calicut)
91 flights
2 routes
DMM (OEDF)
King Fahd Int'l
Dammam
87 flights
1 route
KWI (OKKK)
Kuwait Int'l
Kuwait City
83 flights
1 route

Top Origin Airports

SHJ (OMSJ)
Sharjah International Airport
Sharjah
2598 flights
89 routes
RKT (OMRK)
Ras Al Khaimah International Airport
Ras Al Khaimah
254 flights
9 routes
DAM (OSDI)
Damascus International Airport
Damascus
166 flights
1 route
SYZ (OISS)
Shiraz Shahid Dastghaib International Airport
Shiraz
107 flights
1 route
CCJ (VOCL)
Calicut International Airport
Calicut
105 flights
2 routes
PEW (OPPS)
Peshawar International Airport
Peshawar
93 flights
2 routes
TRV (VOTV)
Thiruvananthapuram International Airport
Thiruvananthapuram
91 flights
1 route
CGP (VGEG)
Shah Amanat International Airport
Chattogram (Chittagong)
89 flights
1 route
SLL (OOSA)
Salalah Airport
Salalah
87 flights
1 route
ELQ (OEGS)
Gassim Airport
Buraidah
86 flights
1 route

Top Border Crossing Flights

SHJ (OMSJ)
Sharjah International Airport
Sharjah, AE
2604 flights
84 routes
DOH (OTHH)
Hamad International Airport
Doha, QA
148 flights
1 route
RKT (OMRK)
Ras Al Khaimah International Airport
Ras al, AE
128 flights
7 routes
BAH (OBBI)
Bahrain International Airport
Manama, BH
112 flights
1 route
CAI (HECA)
Cairo International Airport
Cairo, EG
105 flights
2 routes
DME (UUDD)
Domodedovo International Airport
Moscow, RU
100 flights
2 routes
DAC (VGHS)
Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport
Dhaka, BD
98 flights
1 route
CCJ (VOCL)
Calicut International Airport
Kozhikode (Calicut), IN
91 flights
2 routes

Longest Routes

SHJ → KUL
Sharjah International Airport → Kuala Lumpur Int'l
3444 mi
KUL → SHJ
Kuala Lumpur International Airport → Sharjah Int'l
3444 mi
SHJ → KBV
Sharjah International Airport → Krabi
3098 mi
KBV → SHJ
Krabi Airport → Sharjah Int'l
3098 mi
SHJ → HKT
Sharjah International Airport → Phuket Int'l
3057 mi

Shortest Routes

LRR → SHJ
Lar Airport → Sharjah Int'l
177 mi
SHJ → LRR
Sharjah International Airport → Larestan Int'l
177 mi
MCT → SHJ
Muscat International Airport → Sharjah Int'l
212 mi
SHJ → MCT
Sharjah International Airport → Seeb Int'l
212 mi
SHJ → DOH
Sharjah International Airport → Hamad Int'l
244 mi

All Routes

189 Total Routes
Showing 25 most popular routes
Route Destination Flights Distance Aircraft Last Seen
DAM → SHJ Sharjah Int'l
Sharjah
166 1272 mi A320 Jan 31, 2026
SHJ → DOH Hamad Int'l
Doha
148 244 mi A320 Jan 30, 2026
SHJ → BAH Bahrain Int'l
Manama
112 311 mi A320 Jan 31, 2026
SYZ → SHJ Sharjah Int'l
Sharjah
107 342 mi A320 Jan 30, 2026
SHJ → DAC Shahjalal International Airport
Dhaka
98 2190 mi A320 Jan 29, 2026
TRV → SHJ Sharjah Int'l
Sharjah
91 1828 mi A320 Jan 30, 2026
CGP → SHJ Sharjah Int'l
Sharjah
89 2300 mi A320 Jan 29, 2026
SLL → SHJ Sharjah Int'l
Sharjah
87 581 mi A320 Jan 29, 2026
SHJ → DMM King Fahd Int'l
Dammam
87 364 mi A320 Jan 30, 2026
ELQ → SHJ Sharjah Int'l
Sharjah
86 734 mi A320 Jan 29, 2026
SHJ → KWI Kuwait Int'l
Kuwait City
83 536 mi A320 Jan 30, 2026
SHJ → BKK Suvarnabhumi Bangkok Int'l
Bangkok
80 3041 mi A321 Jan 31, 2026
SHJ → KTM Tribhuvan Int'l
Kathmandu
77 1850 mi A320 Jan 29, 2026
KHI → SHJ Sharjah Int'l
Sharjah
76 730 mi A320 Dec 6, 2025
TBS → SHJ Sharjah Int'l
Sharjah
73 1282 mi A320 Jan 31, 2026
RKT → CCJ Calicut Int'l (Karipur)
Kozhikode (Calicut)
71 1648 mi A320 Jan 27, 2026
EBL → SHJ Sharjah Int'l
Sharjah
71 1019 mi A320 Jan 30, 2026
AMM → SHJ Sharjah Int'l
Sharjah
69 1264 mi A320 Jan 30, 2026
SHJ → DME Domodedovo Int'l
Moscow
68 2264 mi A320 Jan 14, 2026
SHJ → MCT Seeb Int'l
Muscat
67 212 mi A320 Jan 27, 2026
PEW → SHJ Sharjah Int'l
Sharjah
66 1131 mi A320 Jan 28, 2026
SHJ → CAI Cairo Int'l
Cairo
66 1510 mi A321 Jan 11, 2026
MUX → SHJ Sharjah Int'l
Sharjah
64 1029 mi A320 Jan 30, 2026
CCJ → RKT Ras Al Khaimah Int'l
Ras al
63 1648 mi A320 Jan 31, 2026
MHD → SHJ Sharjah Int'l
Sharjah
61 793 mi A320 Jan 26, 2026
Data Information:

Airline statistics are based on flight route observations collected from FlightAware AeroAPI and other sources. Flight counts represent observed operations, not scheduled frequencies. Route data is continuously updated as new flight information becomes available.

Data Freshness: Real-time
Last Update: Jan 31, 2026 15:04
Coverage: Observed routes only