Air Arabia first Airbus A320neo
On September 29, 2025, Air Arabia officially welcomed the low-cost carrier group’s first-ever Airbus A320neo aircraft, beginning the deliveries of its 120 aircraft order made during the Dubai Airshow in 2019.
The aircraft arrived at Sharjah International Airport (SHJ) on September 26, 2025, registered as A6-ARA, being ferried from Toulouse Blagnac Airport (TLS). Air Arabia announced the delivery three days later.
Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohammad Al Thani, the Chairman of Air Arabia, said that the first delivery of its 120-strong aircraft order is an essential milestone for the airline’s growth and fleet development. “As we continue to strengthen our fleet, we remain committed to operational efficiency, innovation and sustainability, while ensuring comfort and value for our passengers,” he added.
The A320neo operated its first flight on September 10, 2025. It departed for SHJ just 15 days later, perhaps an indication that Airbus has been seeing improving delivery schedules from engine makers, including CFM International.
According to the airline, the A320neo is expected to enter service on October 1, 2025, operating flights from SHJ to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK). Like its A320ceos, Air Arabia A320neos are configured with 174 seats in an all-economy layout, with the airline noting that its cabin offers “one of the most generous seat pitch in the economy cabin, ensuring passenger comfort.”
“The A320neo is also equipped with “SkyTime”, the complimentary in-flight streaming service, and “SkyCafe”, its onboard menu further enhancing the passenger experience across Air Arabia flights.”
Air Arabia ordered 120 A320neo family aircraft, comprising 73 A320neos, 27 A321neos, and 20 A321XLRs, in November 2019. The deal, announced during the Dubai Airshow that year, outlined that deliveries are “scheduled to commence in 2024 and the Sharjah-based airline has yet to specify the engines to be installed on its new fleet.”
The low-cost carrier’s selection of engines to power its 120 aircraft was made during the Dubai Airshow in November 2023, between the CFM International LEAP-1A and the Pratt & Whitney PW1100G, also known as the Geared Turbofan (GTF). Air Arabia chose the former.
At the time, the airline stated that, in addition to the 240 engines to power the 120 aircraft, the order, valued at more than $3.6 billion, would include a “multi-year services agreement and spare engines.”
Adel Al Ali, the Chief Executive Officer of Air Arabia, praised the LEAP-1A’s “efficiency and performance,” with the engines supporting the airline’s expansion strategy with the “most efficient fuel consumption.”
At the time, Air Arabia already had a handful of A321LR aircraft. Airbus delivered the six long-range A321neo derivatives between April 2019 and April 2021, with all six A321LRs being leased from either Air Lease Corporation (five) or DAE Capital (one).
The A321s, configured with 215 seats, perform 91 weekly departures from SHJ in September 2025, flying to 19 destinations during the month, according to Cirium’s Diio Mi. Their most extended trek is scheduled to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL), with 5,538 kilometers (2,990 nautical miles) separating SHJ and KUL.
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