Air Arabia Abu Dhabi, a joint venture between Etihad Airways and Air Arabia, plans to expand the fleet to 20 Airbus A320s within the next five years. Company boss Adel Ali expects the travel restrictions to be relaxed soon.

He told "The National" that within the next five years an increase in passengers of 20 to 25 percent is expected. Accordingly, the fleet will be expanded step by step. The announced target fleet only applies if Covid-19 does not bring new "surprises" that have a negative impact on business.

In the previous year the first flight was carried out, but the expansion was held back due to the various entry restrictions. Ali told "The National" that after the travel restrictions have fallen, the pace of expansion will be significantly accelerated. He is also placing hopes in the new entry rules for the United Arab Emirates. From July 1, 2021, people from "safe countries" and vaccinated people should be able to re-enter without quarantine.

Air Arabia Abu Dhabi currently serves 14 destinations from the capital of the United Arab Emirates. Another destination is to be added to Turkey on July 13, 2021. In the future, Ali wants to expand in the direction of Eastern Europe, India, the CIS countries and in the Arab region. Western Europe is not in focus, at least for the time being.

Adel Ali did not say a word about competitor Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, in which the state has an indirect stake through an investment company. The offshoot of the Hungarian low-cost airline also intends to expand strongly from Abu Dhabi and recently announced some new routes. It is expected that the two low costers, in which the Emirate of Abu Dhabi is involved through legal detours, will engage in tough competition and price wars.