Adel Abdullah Ali, the group CEO of AirArabia, the largest low-cost carrier in the Middle East, expressed optimism about expanding business in Bangladesh, considering the country a key route in the airline’s growth strategy. During his recent visit to Dhaka, marking the first tour of Bangladesh by a group CEO in the airline’s 20-year global history, Ali highlighted Bangladesh’s aviation growth and its potential for business opportunities.
Ali emphasized the suitability of Bangladesh for the aviation business, citing AirArabia’s successful operations in the country for the past 17 years. The CEO noted a consistent growth rate of three to four percent year-on-year in Bangladesh’s aviation sector, contributing to the airline’s positive outlook. Bangladesh-UAE is acknowledged as one of the key routes for AirArabia.
Currently, AirArabia operates 57 non-stop weekly flights between two destinations in Bangladesh—Dhaka and Port City Chattogram. Ali mentioned that the airline is open to considering an increase in flight frequency depending on the economic situation and growth factors in Bangladesh.
With seven strategic hubs in UAE, Morocco, Egypt, Armenia, and Pakistan, AirArabia operates over 190 international and domestic routes in approximately 50 countries, maintaining a fleet of 73 Airbus A320 and A321 planes. The airline has an existing order for 120 Airbus A320 family aircraft, including A320neo, A321neo-LR, and A321 XLR, with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2025.
Ali revealed plans to cover all European destinations within two years after receiving the A321 XLR aircraft, capable of flying more than 8 hours. He credited AirArabia with transforming the perception of air travel in the Arab world by making it accessible to all segments of the community with reasonable ticket prices.
The CEO highlighted the positive impact on the expatriate Bangladeshi community, enabling more frequent visits to their homeland. AirArabia has become one of the world’s best-performing airlines in terms of operational efficiency and profitability.
AirArabia regional general manager Rajesh Nurala and MGH CEO Abdur Rahim, the airline’s general sales agent (GSA) in Bangladesh, were also present during Ali’s visit.
