Gulf budget-carrier Air Arabia announced that all of passengers travelling on October 28 will fly for free in celebration of its fifth anniversary.

The website of the region's first and largest no-frills carrier posted a large announcement saying that passengers "shall board their flights with our compliments."

Passengers to and from all 42 destinations served by Air Arabia, except Doha, will have to pay only airport taxes. The offer also covers only one way. "It is the least we can do in recognition of the people who have been flying with us for the last five years," online magazine Arabian Business quoted Air Arabia chief executive officer Adel Ali as saying Monday.

The low-cost carrier now operates 15 new Airbus A320 aircraft. In November, Air Arabia ordered 34 Airbus A320 planes and agreed to option 15 more, in a deal valued at around US$3.5 billion (A$4.9 billion). Air Arabia was also the first Middle East carrier to float on the stock market in 2007 when it offered 55 per cent of its shares, worth around US$700 million (A$994 million), to the public.

Other regional budget airline entered the market after Air Arabia, including Kuwait's Jazeera Airways, and Saudi NAS.