Dubai: Sharjah-based budget carrier Air Arabia said its Egyptian subsidiary has received Air Operators Certificate (AOC) from the Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority, clearing the way for the imminent launch of Air Arabia Egypt, the carrier's Alexandria-based joint venture company.

This will be the third hub for the region's first and largest budget carrier, following Sharjah and Morocco.

"We are ready to start flights from first week of June and the information is already in our system," an Air Arabia spokesperson told Gulf News.

Formed in cooperation with the Travco Group, the Middle East's largest travel and hospitality group, Air Arabia Egypt's operations from Alexandria's Burj Al Arab Airport will start beginning of June with flights to Khartoum and Kuwait.

The new carrier will serve the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) markets, and represents Air Arabia's third hub after the UAE and Morocco.

Air Arabia operations from Egypt will start with two aircraft serving selective number of destinations across the region.

Shaikh Abdullah Bin Mohammad Al Thani, Chairman of Air Arabia Group said: "Air Arabia is continuously expanding to offer a wider segment of customers the best value for money choice for air travel. We are confident that Air Arabia 'Egypt' will pursue the success path that our hubs in the UAE and Morocco have followed, by complementing our ever growing network of destinations."