**
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.
Recent traveler reviews for Air Arabia present a mixed but generally acceptable picture, often emphasizing its low-cost model.
What Travelers Love:**
Common Complaints:
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.
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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.
| 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 |
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.