Air Arabia, the biggest budget carrier in the Middle East, signed a contract on Wednesday with Airbus to purchase 10 more A320s as they prepare to open the new Morocco hub. This move by Air Arabia is part of a push from Gulf Arab airlines to expand their route networks and fleets during a time when carriers in other parts of the world are collapsing or contracting.

This contract is a follow up to an agreement between the two companies from the end of 2007 for Air Arabia to buy 34 A320 planes. Just like Southwest Airlines and other budget airlines, the reliance of Air Arabia on one type of plane allows them to keep maintenance and training costs rather low.

Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohammed Al Thani, the Chairman for Air Arabia, said that their vision is to become one of the leading budget carriers in the world in terms of innovation, operational excellence, reputation, and profit margins. Using the Airbus A320 as the heart of their fleet, he continued, is the quickest and best way that they can achieve this. After the expansion plans for the airline and the new Morocco hub that is anticipated to open next year, he added, expanding the size of Air Arabia’s fleet is definitely needed.

Air Arabia has only been operating for 5 years, launching in October 2003, and based in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. The airline is currently operating 16 A320s, serving a 44 destination network throughout the Middle East, Indian Subcontinent, Central Asia, Eastern Europe, and North Africa. Over the time that they have been operating, Air Arabia has served over 10 million passengers.

Go to www.airarabia.com to learn more about Air Arabia.