Air Arabia

ICAO: ABY Active as of Dec 11, 2025

180

Active Routes

4403

Flight Observations

88

Unique Destinations

85

Origin Airports

1447

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.

What Travelers Say

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.

Content generated by AI based on web research • Updated 2 weeks, 1 day ago
Route Network Map
Most Popular Routes
127 flights
A320
122 flights
A320
83 flights
A320
78 flights
A320
76 flights
A320
SLL → SHJ
Salalah Airport → Sharjah Int'l
581 miles
72 flights
A320
72 flights
A320
71 flights
A320
ELQ → SHJ
Gassim Airport → Sharjah Int'l
734 miles
70 flights
A320
SHJ → DAC
Sharjah International Airport → Shahjalal International Airport
2190 miles
69 flights
A320
Top Destinations
SHJ (OMSJ)
Sharjah Int'l
Sharjah
2070 flights
81 routes
DOH (OTHH)
Hamad Int'l
Doha
122 flights
1 route
RKT (OMRK)
Ras Al Khaimah Int'l
Ras al
102 flights
7 routes
CAI (HECA)
Cairo Int'l
Cairo
97 flights
2 routes
DME (UUDD)
Domodedovo Int'l
Moscow
81 flights
2 routes
BAH (OBBI)
Bahrain Int'l
Manama
78 flights
1 route
CCJ (VOCL)
Calicut Int'l (Karipur)
Kozhikode (Calicut)
78 flights
2 routes
DAC (VGHS)
Shahjalal International Airport
Dhaka
69 flights
1 route
JED (OEJN)
King Abdulaziz Int'l
Jeddah
66 flights
2 routes
DMM (OEDF)
King Fahd Int'l
Dammam
65 flights
1 route
Top Origin Airports
SHJ (OMSJ)
Sharjah International Airport
Sharjah
2027 flights
84 routes
RKT (OMRK)
Ras Al Khaimah International Airport
Ras Al Khaimah
204 flights
8 routes
DAM (OSDI)
Damascus International Airport
Damascus
127 flights
1 route
SYZ (OISS)
Shiraz Shahid Dastghaib International Airport
Shiraz
83 flights
1 route
KHI (OPKC)
Jinnah International Airport
Karachi
76 flights
1 route
CCJ (VOCL)
Calicut International Airport
Calicut
75 flights
2 routes
PEW (OPPS)
Peshawar International Airport
Peshawar
75 flights
2 routes
SLL (OOSA)
Salalah Airport
Salalah
72 flights
1 route
TRV (VOTV)
Thiruvananthapuram International Airport
Thiruvananthapuram
72 flights
1 route
CGP (VGEG)
Shah Amanat International Airport
Chattogram (Chittagong)
71 flights
1 route
Top Border Crossing Flights
SHJ (OMSJ)
Sharjah International Airport
Sharjah, AE
2070 flights
81 routes
DOH (OTHH)
Hamad International Airport
Doha, QA
122 flights
1 route
RKT (OMRK)
Ras Al Khaimah International Airport
Ras al, AE
102 flights
7 routes
CAI (HECA)
Cairo International Airport
Cairo, EG
97 flights
2 routes
DME (UUDD)
Domodedovo International Airport
Moscow, RU
81 flights
2 routes
BAH (OBBI)
Bahrain International Airport
Manama, BH
78 flights
1 route
CCJ (VOCL)
Calicut International Airport
Kozhikode (Calicut), IN
78 flights
2 routes
DAC (VGHS)
Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport
Dhaka, BD
69 flights
1 route
Longest Routes
SHJ → KUL
Sharjah International Airport → Kuala Lumpur Int'l
3444 mi
KUL → SHJ
Kuala Lumpur International Airport → Sharjah Int'l
3444 mi
KBV → SHJ
Krabi Airport → Sharjah Int'l
3098 mi
HKT → SHJ
Phuket International Airport → Sharjah Int'l
3057 mi
SHJ → HKT
Sharjah International Airport → Phuket Int'l
3057 mi
Shortest Routes
SHJ → LRR
Sharjah International Airport → Larestan Int'l
177 mi
LRR → SHJ
Lar Airport → Sharjah Int'l
177 mi
SHJ → MCT
Sharjah International Airport → Seeb Int'l
212 mi
MCT → SHJ
Muscat International Airport → Sharjah Int'l
212 mi
SHJ → DOH
Sharjah International Airport → Hamad Int'l
244 mi
All Routes
180 Total Routes
Showing 25 most popular routes
Route Destination Flights Distance Aircraft Last Seen
DAM → SHJ Sharjah Int'l
Sharjah
127 1272 mi A320 Dec 10, 2025
SHJ → DOH Hamad Int'l
Doha
122 244 mi A320 Dec 10, 2025
SYZ → SHJ Sharjah Int'l
Sharjah
83 342 mi A320 Dec 10, 2025
SHJ → BAH Bahrain Int'l
Manama
78 311 mi A320 Dec 10, 2025
KHI → SHJ Sharjah Int'l
Sharjah
76 730 mi A320 Dec 6, 2025
SLL → SHJ Sharjah Int'l
Sharjah
72 581 mi A320 Dec 10, 2025
TRV → SHJ Sharjah Int'l
Sharjah
72 1828 mi A320 Dec 7, 2025
CGP → SHJ Sharjah Int'l
Sharjah
71 2300 mi A320 Dec 8, 2025
ELQ → SHJ Sharjah Int'l
Sharjah
70 734 mi A320 Dec 9, 2025
SHJ → DAC Shahjalal International Airport
Dhaka
69 2190 mi A320 Dec 9, 2025
SHJ → DMM King Fahd Int'l
Dammam
65 364 mi A320 Dec 9, 2025
SHJ → CAI Cairo Int'l
Cairo
63 1510 mi A320 Dec 9, 2025
SHJ → KTM Tribhuvan Int'l
Kathmandu
62 1850 mi A320 Dec 9, 2025
RKT → CCJ Calicut Int'l (Karipur)
Kozhikode (Calicut)
58 1648 mi A320 Dec 10, 2025
SHJ → KWI Kuwait Int'l
Kuwait City
57 536 mi A321 Dec 3, 2025
TBS → SHJ Sharjah Int'l
Sharjah
57 1282 mi A320 Dec 7, 2025
SHJ → DME Domodedovo Int'l
Moscow
56 2264 mi A320 Dec 11, 2025
MCT → SHJ Sharjah Int'l
Sharjah
56 212 mi A320 Dec 10, 2025
PEW → SHJ Sharjah Int'l
Sharjah
54 1131 mi A320 Dec 9, 2025
EBL → SHJ Sharjah Int'l
Sharjah
54 1019 mi A320 Dec 10, 2025
SHJ → BKK Suvarnabhumi Bangkok Int'l
Bangkok
53 3041 mi A321 Nov 17, 2025
SHJ → MCT Seeb Int'l
Muscat
52 212 mi A320 Dec 8, 2025
MHD → SHJ Sharjah Int'l
Sharjah
51 793 mi A320 Dec 3, 2025
SHJ → RUH King Khalid Int'l
Riyadh
50 553 mi A321 Nov 16, 2025
AMM → SHJ Sharjah Int'l
Sharjah
50 1264 mi A320 Dec 6, 2025
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: Dec 11, 2025 06:00
Coverage: Observed routes only