Sharjah-based budget carrier Air Arabia has taken delivery of another Airbus A320 aircraft, its first of 2012.

The latest delivery brings Air Arabia’s total fleet to 30. The aircraft is part of a 44-strong A320 order the airline made in 2007. The carrier has now received nine of the planes.

Air Arabia says that it will take delivery of six A320s in 2012 and will receive the last planes in 2016.

The airline carried a total of 4.7 million passengers in 2011, which was a six per cent increase compared to the previous year. The carrier also announced a full-year net profit of AED274m ($74.5m) for 2011. Air Arabia’s turnover for the same period was AED2.4bn, which amounts to a 16 per cent increase on 2010.