Pakiatani low-cost airline Fly Jinnah has announced the expansion of its flight operations in Saudi Arabia. From March 30th, 2025, the airline will introduce daily non-stop flights between Islamabad and Riyadh.
The addition of the new route will connect Islamabad International Airport and King Khaled International Airport, further strengthening its position in the market and meeting the rising travel demand. The airline has recently started direct flight operations between Lahore and Dammam, Riyadh, and Jeddah.
A spokesperson for Fly Jinnah stated, “This expansion reflects our commitment to offering affordable and convenient travel options while strengthening cultural and economic ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.”
Fly Jinnah is a joint venture between Pakistan’s Lakson Group and Saudi Arabia’s Air Arabia. The airline maintains a strong network of flights on key domestic routes, including Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar, and Quetta. The airline also runs double daily flights between Sharjah and Lahore as part of its growing international presence.
In February, Fly Jinnah, had received approval from the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) to operate direct flights between Karachi and Dhaka. This marks the resumption of air connectivity between the two cities after nearly a decade. The approval comes as both nations seek to enhance trade, tourism, and diplomatic relations.
CAAB Chairman Air Vice Marshal Md Monjur Kabir Bhuiyan confirmed the development, stating, “They (Fly Jinnah) applied to us, and we have approved it.” However, before flights can commence, Fly Jinnah must appoint a General Sales Agent (GSA) in Bangladesh, after which the airline will receive its flight slots and frequencies.
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) was the last carrier to operate direct flights between Karachi and Dhaka until February 2015. Since then, passengers traveling between the two countries have had to rely on connecting flights through other regional hubs. The return of direct flights is expected to ease travel for businesspeople, tourists, and the Bangladeshi diaspora in Pakistan.
Read more: Fly Jinnah secures approval for direct Karachi-Dhaka flights
The initiative follows an announcement by Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to Pakistan, Mohammad Iqbal Hussain, who stated last week that direct flights would commence in the coming months. He also revealed that cargo flights linking Dhaka, Karachi, and Lahore would soon be introduced to boost bilateral trade.