Air Arabia reports record second quarter net profit of Dhs459m

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

Sharjah-based Air Arabia, the Middle East & North Africa’s prominent low-cost carrier operator, on Friday reported a record second quarter and first half 2023 financial and operational results, as the airline continues to demonstrate remarkable performance and growth.

Air Arabia registered a net profit of Dhs459 million during the second quarter ending June 30, 2023, an increase of 187 per cent compared to Dhs160 million net profit reported for the same period last year. The second quarter net profit also included an exceptional one-off receivable that the airline received from one of its suppliers. 

3.8 million passengers flew with Air Arabia

The company’s turnover for the same period increased by 25 per cent, as the strong demand for air travel continued, registering an Dhs1.39 billion, compared to Dhs1.11 billion in the corresponding period last year. More than 3.8 million passengers flew with Air Arabia between April and June 2023 across the carrier’s seven hubs, an increase of 37 per cent compared to the same quarter last year. The airline’s average seat load factor during the second quarter of 2023 stood at an average of 76 per cent.

During the first half of 2023 (January to June), Air Arabia reported a net profit of Dhs801 million, an increase of 78 per cent compared to Dhs451 million registered in the corresponding first half of 2022. In the same period, the airline posted a turnover of Dhs2.82 billion, a 26 per cent increase compared to Dhs2.24 billion registered in the corresponding first half of last year. More than 7.7 million passengers flew with Air Arabia between January and June 2023 across the carrier’s seven hubs, an increase of 47 per cent compared to the same period last year. The airline’s average seat load factor - or passengers carried as a percentage of available seats -stood at an average of 81 percent.

Consistent growth 

Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohamed Al Thani, Chairman of Air Arabia, said, "Air Arabia’s strong performance in the second quarter of this year is a testament to the resilience and effectiveness of the business model we operate. Our steady performance in the first quarter continued to the second quarter underlining the consistency of our growth strategy and operational excellence. Our team’s dedication continues to drive sustained momentum across our businesses, and we are steadfast in our commitment to continue delivering exceptional value to our customers”.

He added, "Throughout the first half of 2023, Air Arabia remained committed to its strategic expansion plan by strengthening the fleet size, adding new routes and new frequencies across all seven operating hubs. Our organic approach of network expansion not only strengthened our connectivity but has also unlocked new opportunities for our passengers."

Al Thani concluded: "Despite a changing macroeconomic and geo-political environment that we continue to witness, we remain focused on driving profitability and maintaining efficiency across the breadth of our operations, supported by prudent financial and cost control measures taken by the management team. We remain confident in our ability to drive growth while providing our passengers with the best value-driven travel deals”.

Fleet expansion 

During the first half of the year, Air Arabia added three new aircraft to its modern fleet bringing it to a total of 71 owned and leased Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft. During the same period, the carrier has expanded its network by launching 18 new routes across its seven operating hubs in the UAE, Morocco, Egypt, Armenia, and Pakistan. In March, Air Arabia was awarded "Low-Cost Airline of the Year” at Aviation Achievement Awards 2023. 

As part of its commitment to giving back to the community, Air Arabia has also organised its latest CSR initiative "Towards Greener Future” which focused on making a tangible positive impact on the environment. Furthermore, Air Arabia's Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme, "Charity Cloud," has continued to make a positive impact by launching new projects serving underprivileged communities in countries across its network. Through various initiatives and partnerships, the airline remains committed to giving back to society and making a difference in the local communities it serves.