Air Arabia adding 7 routes as weak oil favours budget flights

Dubai

AIR Arabia, the Gulf region's biggest budget carrier, plans to add seven new routes next year as it takes advantage of low oil prices and slowing economies in the Middle East to grab market share from its full-service competitors.

The United Arab Emirates' only listed airline, which will take delivery of six Airbus Group SE planes in 2017, will add four aircraft in the UAE to serve the region and Central Asia, where the expansion will be focused, Air Arabia chief executive officer Adel Ali said. Seats and routes at the Sharjah-based carrier will grow by 12 per cent next year, he said.