Flynas has announced an agreement with Airbus to purchase 160 new aircraft. This record-breaking deal includes 30 wide-body A330neo aircraft and 130 narrow-body A320 family aircraft, effectively doubling Flynas’s total orders to 280 aircraft. This strategic expansion aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, aiming to transform the aviation sector and bolster Flynas’s global presence under the slogan “We connect the world to the Kingdom.” The agreement was formalised at the prestigious Farnborough Airshow in London.
The ceremony was attended by prominent figures including His Excellency Abdulaziz Al-Duailej, President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation, and Ayed Aljeaid, Chairman of Flynas. The signing was officiated by Bander Almohanna, CEO and Managing Director of Flynas, and Christian Scherer, Chief Executive Officer of Commercial Aircraft at Airbus.
His Excellency Al-Duailej expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “I congratulate Flynas on this significant agreement, which reflects the rapid development and transformation of Saudi Arabia’s aviation sector under Vision 2030. The growth and expansion of Flynas are truly remarkable.” This historic deal is set to advance the National Civil Aviation Strategy, aiming to connect Saudi Arabia with over 250 international destinations and increase passenger traffic to 330 million annually by 2030.
Bander Almohanna highlighted the importance of this expansion, saying, “This agreement to purchase 160 Airbus aircraft reinforces our determination to establish Flynas as a leading global low-cost carrier. By doubling our order volume to 280 Airbus aircraft, we ensure sustainable growth across our network of regional and international routes.” He further added that this marks the first time Flynas has ordered the wide-body A330neo, with deliveries beginning in 2027, which will allow the airline to explore new long-haul markets and offer more seat capacity.
Flynas, which lays claim to being the one of the leading low-cost airlines in the world and the best low-cost carrier (LCC) in the Middle East, is widely used by a diverse spectrum of travellers, including high-end passengers, due to its extensive schedule and connections. This new fleet will support Flynas’s goal of expanding its operations to over 160 aircraft by 2030, enhancing international connectivity and contributing to Saudi Arabia’s National Tourism Strategy. The airline currently operates over 70 domestic and international routes, with more than 1500 weekly flights, having served over 78 million passengers since its inception in 2007.
Christian Scherer of Airbus expressed his excitement over the partnership, stating, “We are delighted to expand our partnership with Flynas through this significant milestone for both A320neo and A330-900 aircraft.” He emphasised that the new aircraft will offer Flynas the versatility to expand into new markets while providing passengers with the latest cabin experience and comfort.
In Q1 2024, flynas welcomed 3.7 million passengers on board its flights, marking an increase of 51% YoY compared to Q1 2023.
Flynas hit a record 43% YoY increase in overall seat capacity in Q1 2024, driven by both domestic and international routes which were up 45% and 40% respectively.
During 2023, flynas launched 39 new routes to 18 destinations in 10 new countries and inaugurated its fourth operations base at Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah. flynas operates more than 1,500 weekly flights to more than 70 domestic and international destinations.
In May, Emirates and flynas signed an expanded two-way interline partnership on the sidelines of Arabian Travel Market (ATM), with plans to open up connections and more travel choices for flynas customers via Dubai. Emirates’ current interline with flynas provides its customers with enhanced connectivity via its four gateways – Riyadh, Jeddah, Medinah and Dammam – to over 15 domestic points in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It also includes the convenience of single ticket itineraries with onwards booking and baggage transfers.
With the expansion of the interline to a bilateral arrangement, flynas customers can connect across any of Emirates’ gateways in the Kingdom to a select roster of onward destinations on the airline’s network in the Far East, West Asia & Indian Ocean and Europe, via Dubai.
In parallel with upscaling flynas fleet, taking delivery of the new aircraft contributed to generating hundreds of quality jobs in the aviation sector directly and indirectly, as flynas recently announced the opening of applications in several programs, including the Future Pilots Program, Future Engineers Program, and the Cabin Crew Program for Saudi men and women.
flynas achieves 47% growth in first half of 2024, welcoming over 7 million passengers
Hot on the heels of the Airbus order, flynas has announced a record-breaking performance for the first half of 2024, with a remarkable 47% growth in passenger numbers compared to the same period in 2023. The airline welcomed over 7 million passengers, alongside a 37% increase in seat capacity for both domestic and international flights. This growth comes shortly after flynas announced a significant purchase of 160 Airbus aircraft, marking a key expansion phase for the airline.
Bander Almohanna, CEO and Managing Director of flynas, attributed this success to the airline’s strategic growth initiatives. “Our record performance during the first half of 2024 is driven by our strategic growth plans as we continue to upgrade our fleet, increase capacity, and expand our global network. The strategy, ‘We Connect the World to the Kingdom’, is aligned with the objectives of the National Civil Aviation Strategy to enable national air carriers to connect the Kingdom with 250 international destinations, accommodate 330 million passengers, and host 100 million tourists annually by 2030,” Almohanna stated.
He highlighted the airline’s role in supporting the Pilgrims Experience Program (PEP), facilitating access to the Two Holy Mosques. In the first half of the year, flynas successfully transported more than 100,000 pilgrims from 20 countries, underscoring its commitment to enhancing the travel experience for religious visitors.
To support domestic tourism, flynas has significantly increased seat capacity to popular summer destinations within Saudi Arabia. Almohanna emphasised the airline’s commitment to promoting the Kingdom’s tourism sector, in alignment with the ambitious goals set by Saudi Vision 2030. This expansion is part of a broader effort to strengthen partnerships and increase flynas’ presence in key domestic, regional, and international markets.
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Photos: FLYNAS
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