UAE low-fare carrier Air Arabia yesterday ordered 34 Airbus A320 single-aisle airliners, with delivery to begin in 2012, and took options on an additional 15. Delivery of the aircraft will eventually more than triple the carrier’s current fleet of 10 leased A320s. Chief executive Adel Abdullah Ali, said Air Arabia’s fleet will double by 2010 and grow to 50 by 2015.

Based in Sharjah, Air Arabia has served more than five million passengers since its launch in 2003. It now serves a network of 40 destinations across the Middle East, North Africa, the Indian subcontinent and Central Asia. The network will double to 80 by 2015, by which time a third hub is likely to have been added to Sharjah and a second hub in Morocco.

“Our vision is to be one of the world’s leading budget airlines in terms of profit margin, innovation, reputation and operational excellence,” said Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohammed Al Thani, chairman, Air Arabia.