JEDDAH- Saudia Arabia’s low-cost carrier, Flyadeal (F3) expands its operations between Saudi Arabia and Egypt, introducing new routes and increasing its presence in the region.
The airline will launch flights from Jeddah (JED) to Sohag (OHS) and connect Madinah (MED) with Cairo (CAI), starting November 11, 2024.
Flyadeal New Routes
Flyadeal will now have 44 weekly flights to Egypt. The airline adds Madinah as its fourth Saudi point with direct connections to Cairo, joining Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam.
The new routes utilize 186-seat Airbus A320 aircraft, enhancing connectivity between the two nations. Cairo’s popularity as a tourist, business, and family destination for Saudi visitors drives this expansion.
Sohag, known as Egypt’s agricultural heartland, sits on the west bank of the River Nile. This new destination adds to flyadeal’s growing network in Egypt, which has been steadily expanding since the airline began scheduled flights to Cairo nearly three years ago.
Steven Greenway, flyadeal’s Chief Executive Officer, emphasizes Egypt’s importance as the airline’s largest international market. He highlights the strategic significance of the new Madinah-Cairo route, which will support Umrah and Hajj pilgrim travel.
The Jeddah-Sohag service aims to bridge an underserved market, facilitating connections between friends, families, and communities. This route expansion demonstrates Flyadeal’s commitment to enhancing connectivity between Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
flyadeal’s growth in Egypt extends beyond these new routes. The airline operates dedicated charter flights between the two countries during Hajj and offers summer seasonal services to Sharm El Sheikh.
Greenway hints at further expansion plans in Egypt over the coming months, underlining the market’s key role in Flyadeal’s strategy.
Major Expansion Underway
CEO of Flydeal, Steven Greenway said that “Flydeal’s international expansion is now underway with 20+ new routes to be launched over the coming months.”
Flyadeal’s current network spans nearly 30 year-round and seasonal destinations from its main bases in Riyadh (RUH), Jeddah, and Dammam (DMM). The airline serves locations across Saudi Arabia and select cities in the Middle East, Europe, and North Africa.
Saudia (SV)-subsidiary carrier plans to order its first widebody aircraft by year-end, announced CEO Steven Greenway at the Routes World 2024 conference in Bahrain. The airline is considering both the Airbus A330 and Boeing 787, having ruled out the A350 as too large.
The new widebodies will feature a small premium cabin while maintaining a focus on high-density seating. This expansion aims to serve long-haul destinations and boost Flyadeal’s international presence.
65-35 Ratio
Greenway projects a shift from the current 80% domestic and 20% international flight ratio to 65% domestic and 35% international by late 2025.
While evaluating aircraft options, flyadeal sees advantages in both the A330 and 787. The A330’s commonality with their existing A320 Family fleet is a plus, while parent company Saudia’s 787 experience offers potential benefits.
Greenway clarified that any 787 acquisition would be separate from Saudia’s existing orders, which include 21 787-10s and 18 787-9s.
Currently, flyadeal operates 36 aircraft: 11 A320-200s, 24 A320neo, and one wet-leased A330-200 from Jordan Aviation. The airline anticipates more widebody wet leases in 2025.
flyadeal’s growth plans extend to narrowbody aircraft as well. The carrier has ordered 58 additional planes from Airbus, comprising 19 A320neo and 39 A321neo.
Over the next four years, flyadeal expects to receive an average of one aircraft per month, aiming for a total of 88 narrowbodies by 2028. The airline anticipates inducting its first A321neo in the first quarter of 2026.
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