Air Arabia, the first and largest low-cost carrier in the Middle East and North Africa, today announced that it has taken delivery of its second Sharklet equipped Airbus A320 aircraft in 2013. This new delivery also coincides with the 26th anniversary of the Airbus A320 aircraft.

Last month, Air Arabia took delivery of A320 equipped with Sharklet wing tip devices, becoming the first carrier in the Middle East to do so. Sharklets are an option on new-build Airbus A320 family aircraft, which are equipped with fuel-saving large wing tip devices.

Air Arabia has now received 16 of the 44 A320 aircraft it has ordered from Airbus in 2007. Once completed in 2016, the order will more than double the size of Air Arabia’s existing fleet. The low-cost pioneer expects four more aircraft to be delivered in 2013.

The carrier took delivery of its latest A320 at the Airbus facility in Tolouse, and the new aircraft has gone straight into service across Air Arabia’s global network of 84 destinations, which it serves from three hubs in UAE, Morocco and Egypt.

“Barely a month after receiving the region’s first sharklet equipped aircraft, we are pleased to take delivery of the second aircraft as per the fleet plan schedule,” said, Adel Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer, Air Arabia. “The delivery of the new aircraft marks yet another step in Air Arabia’s fleet expansion strategy, while creating the industry’s most modern fleet. We look forward to the delivery of four more aircraft this year as we continue to expand our footprint in the wider Arab world and beyond.”

Air Arabia aircraft cabin interiors are configured to provide high comfort to passengers, featuring the highest seat pitch of any economy cabin across the globe.