Archive · 6 Oct 2026
Flyadeal Launches Mumbai-Riyadh Flights, Eyes Further India Growth
Flyadeal is a low-cost airline from Saudi Arabia.
It has started nonstop flights between Mumbai and Riyadh, its second destination in India after Hyderabad.
The route has five flights each week and adds more than 7,400 seats each month.
Travellers can also connect in Riyadh to other Saudi cities.
The airline says India is important to its plans.
However, high fuel prices and other difficulties have made it move more carefully.
Flyadeal is considering flights to more Indian cities, including Lucknow, Calicut, Ahmedabad and Surat.
It plans to receive larger aircraft for longer trips and hopes to have nearly 100 planes by 2030.
Flyadeal began nonstop Mumbai-Riyadh flights, its second Indian destination after Hyderabad, which it entered on July 3.
The airline operates five weekly flights on the route using A320neo aircraft, adding more than 7,400 monthly seats.
Passengers can connect from Riyadh to Saudi destinations including Abha, Dammam, Jeddah and Madinah.
Acting CEO Sanjiv Kapoor says India remains a priority, though expansion has slowed amid volatility, airspace closures and high fuel prices.
Flyadeal is considering more Indian cities and plans to expand its fleet from 47 A320s to nearly 100 aircraft by 2030.
- Who
- Flyadeal, part of Saudia Group, and its acting CEO Sanjiv Kapoor.
- What
- Flyadeal launched five weekly nonstop flights between Mumbai and Riyadh.
- When
- The service commenced on a Saturday; the articles do not specify the date.
- Where
- Between Mumbai, India, and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
- Why
- The airline says India is a strategic priority and the route expands its international network and connections to destinations in Saudi Arabia.
Growth opportunities
Expansion constraints
India network expansion
Growth opportunities
Flyadeal says India is a strategic priority, sees demand for low fares, and intends to add destinations and capacity as conditions normalise.
Expansion constraints
Kapoor says expansion has slowed because of volatility, airspace closures, high fuel prices and the need to price carefully in a price-sensitive market.
Access to more Indian cities
Growth opportunities
The airline says there is room to grow passenger numbers and seats, and that both countries want to increase the number of permitted stations.
Expansion constraints
The bilateral arrangement limits the number of stations airlines can serve, restricting flyadeal's choice of destinations.
- Route
- Mumbai-Riyadh, nonstop
- Frequency
- Five weekly flights
- Monthly capacity
- More than 7,400 seats
- Aircraft on route
- A320neo, configured with 186 all-Economy seats
- Indian network
- Mumbai is flyadeal's second Indian destination after Hyderabad, where it began flights on July 3.
- Potential Indian destinations
- Lucknow, Calicut, Ahmedabad and Surat
- Bilateral agreement
- Permits operations between Saudi Arabia and eight points in India; Kapoor says the number of stations is a constraint and both sides are interested in adding more.
- Fleet plans
- Flyadeal operates 47 Airbus A320 aircraft, expects A321neos from the middle of next year and A330neos by the end of next year, and targets nearly 100 aircraft by 2030.
