KARACHI: Flyadeal, a low-cost Saudi airline, has launched operations in Pakistan. Its first flight from Riyadh to Karachi carried 186 passengers and was fully booked, an airline official said on Saturday.
Flyadeal is based in Jeddah and is a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s national carrier, Saudia.
The airline began operations on September 23, 2017, initially serving domestic routes. It expanded internationally in June 2022 with flights from Dammam to Cairo.
Flyadeal’s entry into Pakistan aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. The program aims to boost tourism and attract over 150 million visitors annually by the decade’s end.
The inaugural Flyadeal flight, F3-661, landed at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport at 8:04 a.m. on Saturday, according to the Pakistani Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA).
“We are very proud to start operations in Karachi,” said Farooq S. Ahmad, Flyadeal’s head of sales. “The first flight to Riyadh was completely full. In fact, all flights to Jeddah and Riyadh are fully booked for the next week.”
A ceremony at Karachi’s airport marked the occasion. Passengers received gifts from the airline. Ahmad said new airlines increase competition, benefiting travelers.
He noted strong travel demand between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. Many Pakistanis visit for religious tourism, business, and family reasons.
“Saudi Arabia is the number one destination for Pakistani travelers,” Ahmad said. “People visit for Hajj and Umrah. A large Pakistani community lives in Saudi Arabia. Both blue-collar and white-collar workers travel frequently.”
Flyadeal offers competitive fares and serves all types of travelers. Although it operates as a low-cost airline, it does not target only budget-conscious passengers.
“We have over 200 daily flights from Jeddah, Riyadh, and Dammam,” Ahmad said. “Our customers come from all backgrounds. We offer another option in the market and remain very competitive.”
Due to high demand, Flyadeal will double its weekly flights from two to four, starting March 1. The airline also plans to expand within Pakistan.
“We have already increased our flights,” Ahmad said. “We plan to add routes to Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar, Multan, and Sialkot.”
Flyadeal has set up an office in Karachi. It has partnered with Matchless Global Group as its General Sales Agent (GSA) in Pakistan.
The airline’s expansion will also create jobs in Pakistan. “Every new business brings employment opportunities,” Ahmad said.
