5 hrs ago
Flyadeal expands India network with new Mumbai-Riyadh service
Flyadeal is a low-cost airline from Saudi Arabia.
It has started nonstop flights between Mumbai and Riyadh.
The route adds more than 7,400 seats each month and is the airline’s second destination in India, after Hyderabad.
Passengers can connect from Riyadh to other places in Saudi Arabia.
The airline says India is important to its plans, but high fuel prices and other difficulties have slowed its growth.
Flyadeal is looking at more Indian cities, including Lucknow and Ahmedabad.
The airline plans to get new aircraft that can fly longer routes.
It expects to have close to 100 planes by the end of 2030.
Flyadeal has launched a nonstop Mumbai-Riyadh route, its second Indian destination after Hyderabad, adding more than 7,400 monthly seats.
The service connects passengers to several destinations across Saudi Arabia.
Acting CEO Sanjiv Kapoor says India is a strategic priority, though expansion has slowed amid volatility, airspace closures and high fuel prices.
Flyadeal is considering Indian destinations including Lucknow, Calicut, Ahmedabad and Surat; it says the bilateral agreement permits flights to eight Indian points.
The airline operates 47 Airbus A320s, plans to receive A321neos from the middle of next year and A330neos by year-end, and expects nearly 100 aircraft by 2030.
- Who
- Saudi low-cost airline flyadeal and its acting CEO, Sanjiv Kapoor.
- What
- Flyadeal launched a nonstop Mumbai-Riyadh service, adding more than 7,400 monthly seats.
- Where
- Between Mumbai, India, and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
- When
- The articles do not give the route's launch date.
- Why
- Flyadeal says India is a strategic priority and is seeking to grow its international network and serve demand for low fares.
Key facts
- Route
- Mumbai-Riyadh, nonstop
- Monthly seats added
- More than 7,400
- India destinations
- Mumbai is flyadeal's second Indian destination after Hyderabad.
- Potential Indian destinations
- Lucknow, Calicut, Ahmedabad and Surat
- Bilateral agreement
- Allows Saudi-India operations between eight points in India; Kapoor says the number of permitted stations is a constraint and both countries are interested in adding ports of call.
- Current fleet
- 47 Airbus A320 aircraft
- Fleet plans
- 240-seat A321neos are expected from the middle of next year, and 420-seat A330neos by the end of next year.
- Fleet target
- Close to 100 aircraft by the end of 2030
Quotes
Sanjiv Kapoor
Acting chief executive officer of flyadeal and executive vice president of strategy at Saudia Group
“Discussions have taken place between the two ministries and the ministers of both countries discussed this and there is desire on both sides to liberalise the bilaterals to allow more ports of call and we hope that happens soon.”
NDTV
“Flyadeal is getting Airbus A330 aircraft at the end of next year to operate to these long-haul markets, which are six hours or more, six to eight hours away from Saudi Arabia”
financialexpress.com
Sources
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