Flyadeal launches five new routes from Madinah as capacity jumps 40 per cent

Saudi Arabia’s low-cost airline flyadeal has launched five new routes from Madinah, marking a major expansion of its newest operational base in the Kingdom.

The move lifts weekly capacity by 40 per cent and underlines the airline’s intention to develop Madinah into a core hub for domestic and international travel.

The expansion takes flyadeal’s destinations from Madinah to eight and significantly increases connectivity from the holy city for residents, business travellers and pilgrims.

Flyadeal adds five new routes

The airline has introduced scheduled services to Sabiha Gökçen in Istanbul, alongside four domestic destinations:

• Abha
• Al Hofuf
• Jazan
• Tabuk

The additions increase flyadeal’s destinations from Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport from three to eight. Until now, the carrier served Dammam, Riyadh and Cairo from Madinah.

The expansion represents a 40 per cent increase in the number of flyadeal-operated flights from Madinah, rising to 88 services a week.

Two aircraft are now permanently based at the airport, which becomes flyadeal’s fourth operational base after Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam.

To mark the milestone, airport officials joined flyadeal management, led by Rogier van Enk, Chief Commercial and Customer Officer, for a series of activities celebrating the launch with passengers.

Madinah is a key operational base

Steven Greenway, flyadeal CEO, said: “We’ve steadily built capacity from Madinah, but this expansion of five new routes at the beginning of the year is a statement of intent from flyadeal to develop Madinah into one of our key operational bases.

“Having aircraft positioned in Madinah gives us the flexibility to quickly upgrade with more frequencies or add routes to a schedule which will continue to be built up giving our customers more choices and convenience of direct flights to travel within the Kingdom and beyond.

“Madinah was a natural addition as a base given its prominence as the second holiest city in the Islamic world and key gateway for pilgrims.”

The expanded schedule complements flyadeal’s year-round Umrah flights operated from several countries directly to Madinah, north of Jeddah.

Domestic flights in Saudi Arabia

Rogier van Enk, flyadeal Chief Commercial and Customer Officer, said: “The additional routes aim to cater to both outbound travel for holidaymakers and business travellers living and working in and around Madinah, while also attracting inbound pilgrimages.

“My commercial team and I look forward to continue working with the authorities at Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport to explore more opportunities building air travel connectivity in line with Saudi Vision 2030.”

flyadeal said the new routes support already strong demand from Madinah. Daily Cairo services are now operated 11 times a week, while frequency on the Dammam route has increased from 19 to 26 weekly flights. Services to Riyadh continue at five flights a day.

The new domestic routes span multiple regions of the Kingdom, serving Jazan on the southwest coast, Tabuk in the northwest, Al Hofuf in the Eastern Province, and Abha in the mountainous Aseer region.

Fleet growth plans

Almost 60 per cent of flyadeal’s 44-strong narrowbody fleet of Airbus A320 aircraft is based at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. A further 11 aircraft are positioned at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, five at King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, and now two in Madinah.

The airline’s growth strategy includes expanding its fleet to more than 100 aircraft by 2030 and more than tripling its network to over 100 destinations within five years.

Tickets for the new Madinah routes are now on sale via the flyadeal mobile app, website and authorised travel agents.