UAE’s Air Arabia, Bahrain’s Gulf Air sign leasing deals

Sharjah-based low cost carrier Air Arabia has announced a leasing deal for six Airbus A321neo long-range aircraft with US-based Air Lease Corporation.

The new aircraft, featuring 215 seats, will be used to serve longer-range destinations when they join the airline’s fleet in 2019.

“The addition of A321neo Long Range aircraft allow us to expand our service to longer range destinations and helps offer more flexibility in our existing high density routes.,” said Air Arabia group CEO Adel Ali

Air Arabia’s current fleet comprises 50 Airbus A320s.

It serves passengers from five hubs in the UAE’s Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah, Morocco, Egypt and Jordan and has more than 133 routes.

Read: Air Arabia starts flights to Oman’s Sohar

The additional range provided by the A321neo could allow the airline to serve destinations in China and Malaysia.

In a separate announcement Dubai Aerospace Enterprise announced it was leasing five Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner jets to Bahrain’s Gulf Air.

The planes are scheduled to enter the carrier’s fleet in 2018.