Leading budget carrier Air Arabia has been experiencing massive, sustained growth since its first flight took off in October 2003 from Sharjah International Airport (UAE), said its Chief Executive Officer Adel Ali.

The airline, which is celebrating its 8th Anniversary, now flies more than 100 flights every day, including over 50 per day from its primary hub in Sharjah, said a company statement.

Eight years after its launch, Air Arabia is now widely seen as one of the Middle East’s true corporate success stories, it added.

Commenting on the success, Adel Ali said, “From earliest days of serving 5 regional destinations with just 2 aircraft, the region’s leading low-cost carrier today serves 69 destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Europe, operating from hubs in the UAE, Morocco and Egypt.”

“Eight years ago, we couldn’t have anticipated how rapidly Air Arabia would grow, or how dramatically our pioneering low-cost model would change how, when and at what price people would travel here in the Middle East,” he added.

“The past 8 years have been a remarkable journey for all of us at Air Arabia - including our employees and, of course, our loyal passengers.”

“From our earliest days, with just a handful of passengers, we have now served millions and millions of individuals - connecting them with friends and families, helping them carry out their studies and succeed in their businesses,” he stated.

“To put that in context, today, we process more than 4,000 passenger bookings on our website every day,” he added.