Air Arabia profits soar 34% amid...

UAE's low-cost airline adds seven new routes in the first quarter of 2025

Air Arabia, the Middle East's largest low-cost carrier, has seen its profits soar by 34% in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period last year, with passenger numbers rising 11% to 4.9 million.

Net profit reached AED333 million (US$91 million) in Q1, while turnover reached AED1.75 billion (US$476 million), up 14%.

This follows a record year for UAE-based airline in 2024 which saw profits of AED1.6 billion (US$435 million) before tax as passenger numbers soared 12% to reach 18.8 million. The airline grew its network significantly last year, adding 31 new routes.

The impressive numbers for the first quarter of 2025 come as the first and largest LLC in the region expanded its fleet to 83 Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft with the addition of two A320s in January. The airline also added seven new routes in Q1 2025, bringing the total network to 217 destinations.

This is the latest in a line of records being broken and new benchmarks being set by UAE-based airlines as they meet surging demand.

Air Arabia’s figures come days after Dubai-based Emirates became the world’s most profitable airline, with US$5.8 billion for the financial year ending 31 March 2025, up 20% on the previous year.

In February, Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, posted record profits for 2024 of US$476 million.

Looking ahead, Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohammad Al Thani, Chairman of Air Arabia, said the airline was focused on "expanding connectivity, exploring new market opportunities and delivering a seamless, value-driven travel experience to our customers".

Middle East commercial airlines are expected to grow almost twice as quickly as the global average in the coming years, according to Oliver Wyman, with the region's share of the global commercial aircraft fleet set to increase from 5.3% to 6.7% by 2035, reaching 2,600.

For more information, visit www.airarabia.com

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