Middle Eastern budget carrier Air Arabia has formally exercised options on another 10 Airbus A320 aircraft, bringing its firm total to 44.
Air Arabia chief executive Adel Ali told Air Transport Intelligence during the Arab Air Carriers Organization conference in Tunis during October that it had increased its original 34-strong order to 44, with five options in reserve. Airbus has today confirmed the agreement.
Ali says the airline does not intend to take either the larger or smaller variants of the A320 family, adding: "We'll stick with the A320, it has the right balance."
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No engine selection has been formally disclosed, but Air Arabia's current A320 fleet - comprising 16 aircraft - is fitted with CFM International CFM56s.
Ali says the airline will introduce another four A320s next year, ahead of the arrival of its ordered jets.
Air Arabia has already disclosed plans to use some of its aircraft to establish a Moroccan operation, Air Arabia Maroc, in Casablanca. This operation, which will start services early next year, will initially have two or three A320s.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
