The first and biggest Arab low budget carrier Air Arabia opened regular flights between Athens and Sharjah – the cultural capital of the United Arab Emirates. The flights are direct and will be three times per week – Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. The opening of this line is part of Air Arabia’s plan to spread its operations throughout Europe.

Athens is the first destination of the Arab low budget carrier in an EU country and the third one on the Old Continent. The company travels to 46 destinations in the Middle East, Southeast Europe, North Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Indian subcontinent. “Greece is one of the fastest developing economies in the EU and there is big passenger traffic between it and the Arab world, mostly for business and tourism purposes,” said at the opening of the line Ak Nizar, commercial director of Air Arabia.

The company was founded in October 2003 and is registered on the Dubai stock exchange. It has 16 Airbus A320 planes.