DUBAI- Saudi budget carrier flyadeal (F3) is targeting significant expansion into the Indian market within the next year, CEO Steve Greenway announced at Dubai’s Skift Global Forum East on Wednesday (November 25, 2024).
The airline, operating under parent company Saudia (SV), currently maintains operational hubs in Jeddah (JED), Riyadh (RUH), and Dammam (DMM), serving approximately 30 destinations through its domestic and international network.
Flyadeal India Flights
Greenway emphasized India’s strategic importance in flyadeal’s expansion strategy, citing substantial opportunities in both the labor movement and religious travel sectors. The expansion plans extend beyond India, encompassing China and Southeast Asian markets.
“India’s massive market potential positions it as our primary focus,” Greenway stated, highlighting the country’s significant worker traffic and religious travel demand from the Subcontinent.
The existing codeshare partnership with Saudia enhances flyadeal’s market position, enabling seamless connections between Indian destinations and European routes through Saudia’s Riyadh and Jeddah hubs.
New Widebody Order
flyadeal will expand its all-Airbus fleet to 38 aircraft by year-end, targeting substantial growth to 88 aircraft within three years through A320 family acquisitions.
The airline will introduce A321s in Q1 2026, enhancing its capability to operate longer routes. This expansion follows flyadeal’s landmark order of 51 Airbus A320 family aircraft in May, including 12 A320neos, with deliveries starting in 2026.
CEO Steve Greenway confirmed the airline’s ambitious target of operating 100 aircraft by 2030, aligning with Saudi government mandates to increase pilgrim and worker traffic capacity.
Flyadeal plans to finalize a 15-aircraft wide-body order by year-end, supplementing its current five leased wide-body aircraft. The larger aircraft will serve strategic routes, particularly targeting Hajj and Umrah pilgrims from the UK and worker traffic from Southeast Asian markets
Greenway identified specific opportunities in Indian markets like Kolkata, where wide-body operations offer significant cargo advantages. “Wide-body aircraft can transport 20-25 tons of cargo, providing capabilities unavailable with narrow-body aircraft,” he stated.
The airline will launch 25 new routes within the next three to four months, with 90% focused on international destinations, marking a significant expansion beyond Saudi Arabia’s borders.
The growth strategy reflects flyadeal’s response to increasing regional travel demand and Saudi Arabia’s broader aviation sector development goals, positioning the airline for substantial market presence expansion across multiple segments including religious tourism, labor movement, and cargo operations.
