Sharjah-based Air Arabia said on Monday it had inked a deal with Tantash Group, an Amman-based investment company to launch a new low-cost carrier based in Jordan.

Air Arabia ‘Jordan’, the first budget airline 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, and its Moroccan hub at Mohamed V Airport in Casablanca.

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“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 CEO, 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.”

Mazen Tantash, chairman, Tantash Group, added: “This partnership 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 low-cost model introduced to the MENA region by Air Arabia.

Further information regarding the new joint venture will be released in the near future, Air Arabia added.

Air Arabia launched its services from Sharjah in October 2003 and now operates on 64 routes, spanning Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia, from its hubs in the UAE, Egypt and Morocco.