A new Saudi airline, Flyadeal, has applied to the Ministry of Aviation to operate direct international flights to Pakistan. The new airline seeks to operate direct flights from multiple locations in Pakistan.
If approved, Flyadeal would offer direct flights from multiple Pakistani airports to Saudi Arabia, enhancing connectivity between the two nations and potentially creating jobs within Pakistan’s aviation sector.
The airline is currently based at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah. It is owned by Saudi Arabia’s flag carrier, Saudia. Established in 2017, Flyadeal initially operated on domestic routes in Saudi Arabia.
It is noteworthy that Saudi Airlines is already operating direct flights between Pakistan and the Kingdom from several Pakistani destinations.
The entry of Flyadeal, alongside Saudi Arabian Airlines’ existing operations, would further strengthen air travel options between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
Last year, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed a memorandum seeking to increase flight operations between the two countries. The visiting Saudi delegation said that the increase in flight operations would further reduce the traveling cost.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed an ‘Air Service Agreement’ last year. Saudi Hajj minister Dr.Tawfiq Al-Rabiah had signed the memorandum of understanding.
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“During this visit, we signed an MOU with the help of Allah, the Air Services Agreement,” Al-Rabiah said at a joint press conference with Pakistan’s Caretaker Minister of Religious Affairs, Aneeq Ahmed.
“Under this agreement, the number of flights between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia will increase due to which the cost of travel will also be reduced.” The minister said that a substantial number of Pakistanis visited the Kingdom in 2022 and that this number is projected to increase in the coming years. A large number of Pakistani expatriates are also living in Saudi Arabia. More than 2.5 million Pakistanis are projected to be living and working in Saudi Arabia.