Shiraz will be the low-cost carrier’s second destination in the Islamic republic, after the capital Tehran. It has a network of 40 routes.

The airline will initially fly four times a week to Shiraz from its main hub in the UAE.

Air Arabia, the first budget carrier to launch in the region, will open a third international hub, after Sharjah and Nepal, in Morocco late this year. It recently announced plans to open a fourth hub in the Levant or North Africa (MEED 21:5:08).