New operations for Egyptian arm of Air Arabia

Air Arabia Egypt, the new budget airline launched by Sharjah-based Air Arabia in partnership with Egyptian travel group Travco is expecting to operate from multiple bases in Egypt.

The Egyptian operations give Air Arabia a third regional hub after it set up a joint venture in Morocco in April, and from its Casablanca base Air Arabia Maroc flies to 10 European destinations, including Paris, London, Rome and Brussels.

Air Arabia Egypt is still engaged in preparatory organisational work but still hopes to begin services in time for the summer 2010 schedule, serving European, Asian and African routes.

Air Arabia, which operates 20 planes and flies to 46 destinations from Sharjah, has 44 new Airbus 320 planes on order.