Air Arabia Abu Dhabi (3L, Abu Dhabi International) plans to add two A320-200s by the end of 2025, a move widely seen as a response to Wizz Air Abu Dhabi's shutdown. The Air Arabia (G9, Sharjah) subsidiary now aims to expand its fleet from 10 aircraft at the beginning of 2025 to 14 by the end of the year.
"The addition of new aircraft and our strategic fleet expansion reflect our ongoing commitment to enhancing operational efficiency and expanding our network reach. This growth supports the rising demand for air travel to and from Abu Dhabi," said Air Arabia chief executive Adel Abdulla Ali.
The news about the planned fleet growth comes only days after Wizz Air Holdings announced the closure of Wizz Air Abu Dhabi. Etihad Airways has already announced it will launch seven new services out of Abu Dhabi, picking up five routes currently served by Wizz Air's UAE subsidiary.
With Wizz Air Abu Dhabi currently operating 25 services from the city, its exit will leave some routes unserved.
According to ch-aviation data, Air Arabia Abu Dhabi operates twelve A320-200s. The company is a joint venture between Air Arabia and Etihad Airways, established to meet the low-cost travel demand out of Abu Dhabi. The airline obtained its air operator's certificate (AOC) in April 2020 and launched operations in July of the same year.
