Air Arabia, the first and largest low-cost carrier (LCC) in the Middle East and North Africa, and Tantash Group, an Amman-based diversified investment company active in the travel sector, announced today the signing of a joint venture agreement to launch a new low-cost carrier based in Amman, Jordan. The announcement followed a function organised in Amman under the patronage and attendance of his Excellency Minister of Transport, Engineer Alaa Batayneh.

Air Arabia ‘Jordan,’ the first LCC based in the Hashemite Kingdom, will provide direct service to a range of destinations across the Europe, Middle East and North Africa region from Queen Alia International Airport.

This announcement follows the recent launch of operations of Air Arabia third hub in Alexandria. Following the launch of Air Arabia ‘Jordan,’ the carrier will provide service from four hubs spanning the Middle East and North Africa region, including its primary hub in Sharjah, UAE, and its Moroccan hub at Mohamed V Airport in Casablanca, which introduced service in April 2009.

“We thank the Jordanian Ministry of Transport for granting all the support to launch this new project. The signing of our joint venture agreement with Tantash Group, one of Jordan’s leading investment companies, represents yet another milestone in the ongoing evolution of Air Arabia,” said Adel Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer, Air Arabia. “At a time when the global and regional economy continues to demonstrate strong signs of sustained recovery, we are confident of the long-term growth opportunities for the first low-cost carrier in the Kingdom, which will provide the high level of service, operational reliability and value-for-money fares that have become hallmarks of the Air Arabia brand.”

“With nearly two decades of experience in the travel and tourism sector in Jordan, Tantash Group, like our partners Air Arabia, is a pioneer in the region’s rapidly expanding travel sector,” said Mazen Tantash, Chairman, Tantash Group. “This partnership therefore represents a unique synergy of skills, experience and management vision, which will provide significant benefits for travellers based in Jordan and across the wider EMEA region.”

The new carrier, whose operations will be managed by the Air Arabia Group, will follow the successful low-cost model introduced to the MENA region by Air Arabia. Further information regarding the new joint venture will be communicated in the near future.

Air Arabia launched service from Sharjah, UAE, in October 2003. Today, the carrier provides service to 64 routes, spanning Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia, from its hubs in the UAE, Egypt and Morocco.

Tantash Group, headquartered in Amman, is a diversified investment company, which is active in travel and tourism, real estate, financial services and industrial investment.