Air Arabia Abu Dhabi
{{Short description|Low-cost airline of the United Arab Emirates}}
{{Infobox airline
| airline = Air Arabia Abu Dhabi
| image = Air Arabia Abu Dhabi A320 (A6-AUB) @ AUH, Jan 2021.jpg
| logo = Air Arabia Logo.svg
| logo_size = 150px
| alt =
| caption = An Air Arabia Abu Dhabi A320 at Zayed International
| fleet_size = 10
| destinations = 29{{Cite web |title=Air Arabia Abu Dhabi on ch-aviation |url=https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/airline/ADH |access-date=2023-11-09 |website=ch-aviation |language=en}}
| IATA = 3L
| ICAO = ADY
| callsign = NAWRAS{{cite web|title=Airline Code Full Details - Wizz Air Abu Dhabi|url=https://www.avcodes.co.uk/details.asp?ID=29273|website=avcodes.co.uk}}
| parent = {{ubl|class=nowrap
| Air Arabia (49%)
| Etihad Airways (51%){{cite web|url=https://www.khaleejtimes.com/aviation/etihad-owns-51-and-air-arabia-holds-remaining-stake-in-air-arabia-abu-dhabi|title=Etihad Airways To Create A Low Cost Carrier|first=Waheed|last=Abbas|date=12 August 2020|work=Khaleej Times}}}}
| founded = {{start date and age|2019|10|16|df=yes}}
| commenced = {{start date and age|2020|07|14|df=yes}}
| headquarters =
| key_people =
| aoc =
| bases = Zayed International Airport
| hubs =
| focus_cities =
| frequent_flyer = AirRewards
| lounge =
| alliance = Arab Air Carriers' Organization
| revenue =
| profit =
| assets =
| equity =
| website = {{URL|www.airarabia.com}}
}}
Air Arabia Abu Dhabi is an Emirati low-cost airline. Created in October 2019 by Etihad Airways as a joint venture with Air Arabia to expand into the growing low-cost market, it launched operations in July 2020. The airline is based in Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi.
History
In October 2019, Etihad announced it would set up its own low-cost carrier in partnership with Sharjah-based Air Arabia. To that date the airline was the fifth in the UAE, and the first low-cost carrier in Abu Dhabi. The announcement was given during a period in which when Etihad posted a third consecutive year of losses and after pursuing a strategy of investing in failing airlines and after the government owned Etihad began a five year transformation plan in 2017.
Initially, Air Arabia Abu Dhabi was supposed to launch operations in March 2020, with plans to fly to about a dozen destinations in Saudi Arabia, Kazakhstan, Georgia, Armenia, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
In April 2020, Air Arabia Abu Dhabi received its air operator certificate from UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority. To that date the airline was yet to commit to a firm launch date due to the travel restrictions during the pandemic.
On July 14, 2020, the airline was launched after the signing of an agreement between Etihad Airways and Air Arabia.{{cite web |last=Schlappig |first=Ben |date=6 July 2020 |title=Air Arabia Abu Dhabi Launching Flights Next Week |url=https://onemileatatime.com/air-arabia-abu-dhabi/ |access-date=14 December 2020 |website=One Mile at a Time}} The airline started with two based A320-200.{{cite web |title=Air Arabia Abu Dhabi launches a new route to Moscow |url=https://worldairlinenews.com/tag/air-arabia-abu-dhabi/ |website=World Airline News |access-date=5 December 2022}}
In June 2021, the outbound load factors reached more than 70% while inbound load factors were “much lighter”.{{Cite web |url=https://www.exyuaviation.com/2022/03/air-arabia-abu-dhabi-terminates-sarajevo.html |title=Air Arabia Abu Dhabi terminates Sarajevo |access-date=4 December 2022 |website=EX-YU Aviation News |date=8 March 2022 }}
In September 2021, Air Arabia Abu Dhabi expected its annual traffic to grow by 20% to 25% over the upcoming five years.
In October 2022, Air Arabia Abu Dhabi was the second largest carrier in Abu Dhabi with an 8 percent share of seats serving 24 destinations.{{cite web |title=Air Arabia, Wizz Air Among Budget Airlines Gaining Share in Gulf Hub Shift |url=https://airlineweekly.com/2022/10/air-arabia-wizz-air-among-budget-airlines-gaining-share-in-gulf-hub-shift/ |website=Airline Weekly | date=31 October 2022}}
Corporate affairs
Air Arabia Abu Dhabi supports the network of destinations and services provided by Etihad Airways, and in turn will meet the needs of the low-cost and growing travel sector in the region. Its board of directors, which is made up of members nominated by the two companies, is responsible for directing the company's independent strategy and developing its business.{{cite web |title=Etihad announces codeshare partnership with Air Arabia Abu Dhabi |url=https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/25372-etihad-codeshare-air-arabia-abu-dhabi|access-date=4 December 2022 |website=Aerotime Hub|date=22 October 2020 }} Air Arabia Abu Dhabi is Etihad Airways’ first major investment, a change from its long-held relationship strategy of airline equity partnerships.{{cite web |title=Air Arabia Abu Dhabi Airline Profile |url=https://centreforaviation.com/data/profiles/airlines/air-arabia-abu-dhabi-3l|access-date=4 December 2022 |website=CAPA}} Air Arabia Abu Dhabi is expected to take over a number of former and present Etihad routes operated by single-aisle aircraft in the near future.{{Cite web |title=Air Arabia Abu Dhabi eyes greater Balkan presence |url=https://www.exyuaviation.com/2022/07/air-arabia-abu-dhabi-eyes-greater.html |access-date=21 July 2022 |website=EX-YU Aviation|date=21 July 2022 }}
The airline offers a similar service model to the rest of Air Arabia’s network.
Competition
The ultra-low cost carrier Wizz Air Abu Dhabi has also a base in the Zayed International Airport. Regarding the short distance between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, the hybrid airline Flydubai is a competitor.
Fleet
{{As of|2024|05}}, the Air Arabia Abu Dhabi fleet consists of the following aircraft:{{Cite web |title=Air Arabia Abu Dhabi Fleet Details and History |url=https://www.planespotters.net/airline/Air-Arabia-Abu-Dhabi |access-date=16 July 2023 |website=www.planespotters.net}}Airbus Orders and Deliveries (XLS), monthly updated, accessed via {{cite web |title = Orders & deliveries |publisher=Airbus SAS |url=http://www.airbus.com/aircraft/market/orders-deliveries.html |website= Airbus |access-date=16 July 2023}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;margin:auto;"
|+ Air Arabia Abu Dhabi fleet |
| Aircraft
!In service !Orders !Passengers !Notes |
|---|
| rowspan="2" |Airbus A320-200
| rowspan="2" |10 | rowspan="2" |5 |168 | rowspan="2" | |
| 174 |
| Total
!10 !5 !colspan="2"| |
=Fleet development=
The airline expects to operate 20 planes by 2025.
Destinations
File:Countries served by Air Arabia from Abu Dhabi.svg
{{As of|2024|05}}, Air Arabia Abu Dhabi serves the following airports:
=Route development=
The inaugural flight was to Alexandria on 14 July 2020. The second route started one day later to Sohag.{{cite web |title=Air Arabia Abu Dhabi takes off with inaugural flight to Alexandria in Egypt |url= https://english.alarabiya.net/life-style/travel-and-tourism/2020/07/14/-Air-Arabia-Abu-Dhabi-takes-off-with-inaugural-flight-to-Alexandria-in-Egypt |website=AlArabia News|date=14 July 2020}}
Reported in July 2022, the airline’s CEO Adel Abdulla Ali said “We will put a circle around Abu Dhabi and wherever we find potential within four to six hours, we'd like to do those routes, including Europe”.
In June 2021, the CEO said the CIS, Arab countries, Eastern Europe, and the Indian subcontinent are among the most attractive markets for the airline.
In September 2022, Air Arabia Abu Dhabi announced Moscow as a new destination.{{cite web |title=Air Arabia Abu Dhabi launches new route to Moscow |url= https://www.connectingtravel.com/news/air-arabia-abu-dhabi-launches-new-route-to-moscow |website=Connecting Travel|date=30 September 2022}}
In November 2022, the airline announced flights to the Russian airports of Yekaterinburg and Kazan.{{cite web |title=Air Arabia Abu Dhabi launches new routes to Russia |url= https://www.businesstraveller.com/business-travel/2022/11/28/air-arabia-abu-dhabi-launches-new-routes-to-russia/ |website=BusinessTraveller|date=28 November 2022}}
References
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{{Portal bar|Companies|Aviation|United Arab Emirates}}
{{Navbox Airlines of the United Arab Emirates}}