UAE – Mubasher: Air Arabia on Monday announced that it has received its first Airbus (A321neo Long Range), the company said in a statement.

Accordingly, the Dubai-listed carrier becomes the first Middle Eastern airline to operate the A321neo LR.

Air Arabia, the Middle East and North Africa’s first and largest low-cost carrier (LCC), pointed out that the new aircraft flew nonstop from Airbus’s facility in Hamburg to Sharjah International Airport.

The delivery is the first of six aircraft that will join the fleet, which comprises of 53 A320 Family aircraft, serving more than 155 routes across the globe from four hubs in the UAE, Morocco, and Egypt, the statement added.

The newly added plane will enable Air Arabia,  the UAE's only listed airline, to expand to new medium-haul markets in addition to strengthening the existing routes with increased seat capacity.

“The addition of this new aircraft allows us to expand our service to farther and newer destinations while remaining loyal to our low-cost business model. We look forward to receiving the remaining aircraft in 2019 as we continue to offer our customers an excellent product with more destinations to discover,” Adel Al Ali, CEO of Air Arabia, commented.

Airbus A321neo LR is powered by CFM LEAP-1A engines and accommodates 215 passengers, according to the statement.

The new cabin interior includes a new generation of seats providing extra comfort onboard while maintaining Air Arabia’s known generous seat pitch.