Air Arabia Abu Dhabi is expected to make its maiden flight on July 14 and offer a direct flight to the ancient Egyptian city of Alexandria, the airline said on Monday. The next day, another direct flight to Sohag in Egypt will be launched.
The fifth national airline of the United Arab Emirates will begin its official journey when airlines around the world face the challenge of staying afloat due to the declining demand for travel after the outbreak of the coronavirus.
The low-cost airline based in Abu Dhabi, a joint venture between Air Arabia and Etihad Airways, will begin operations with two Airbus A320 aircraft at Abu Dhabi International Airport.
Aviation analysts said the new airline will initially target the Middle East and North Africa markets and then expand its reach to underserved Asian markets.
Passengers who have booked the tickets with the new airline can also use the broad network and fleet of Etihad Airways and Air Arabia.
Etihad and Air Arabia currently operate a combined fleet of 162 aircraft, including 109 from the state-owned airline in Abu Dhabi and 53 from the airline based in Sharjah – the UAE’s only listed airline.
Air Arabia flies to 170 destinations in 50 countries through its hubs in Sharjah, Morocco and Egypt, while Etihad flies to 80 destinations.
Tony Douglas, Group Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Aviation Group, said Abu Dhabi has earned an exceptional reputation for business and leisure travel.
“We look forward to the emirate continuing to flourish as the current global situation improves and the markets begin to open again.”
“In these extraordinary times, we are very proud to launch Air Arabia Abu Dhabi, the capital’s first low-cost carrier. This joint venture between Etihad and Air Arabia offers more convenience and direct access to the flourishing UAE capital for new markets worldwide, starting with two important Egyptian routes and extended in time. “
Air Arabia’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Adel Al Ali, said Egypt is an important travel market. The introduction of the “first flights” reflects our focus on supporting the trade and trade relations between the two countries and offers our customers a new price-performance ratio money option for travel between the two countries “.
He said Abu Dhabi is a major travel and tourism center, and Air Arabia Abu Dhabi will continue to serve this vision by positioning Abu Dhabi as a key center in the region for low-cost travel.
“While the global aviation sector continues to face unprecedented challenges due to the Covid 19 pandemic, this move is a testament to the strength of the aviation sector in the UAE and our commitment to its long-term prospects,” said Ali.
“We look forward to expanding Air Arabia Abu Dhabi’s target network as more airports open and flights resume,” he added.
“Even without the pandemic, Air Arabia Abu Dhabi’s founding has always been a challenge given the transformation at Etihad and the new presence of direct rival Wizz Air Abu Dhabi,” Ahmad told the Khaleej Times.
“Air Arabia Abu Dhabi faces a difficult task before the industry can recover. Currently, the playing field is like a battlefield and it is a bold step for the airline to go into operation when so many airlines fail.” because of the derailment and collapse of traffic, “said Ahmad.
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