Introduction to flyadeal’s Strategic Expansion
flyadeal, the budget airline based in Saudi Arabia, is embarking on a significant expansion of its international route network. This expansion plan is set to unfold over the coming months, marking a pivotal phase in the carrier’s development. flyadeal, a subsidiary of the Saudia Group, is not only increasing its route frequency but also considering its first widebody order to enhance long-haul services.
Expanding Routes to Egypt
The airline has announced an increase in its flights between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Egypt, indicating a strategic push to strengthen its presence in North Africa. Starting November 11, 2024, flyadeal will introduce new flights from Jeddah to Sohag and from Madinah to Cairo, using Airbus A320 family aircraft. This expansion will bring flyadeal’s weekly flights between the two countries to 44.
Madinah’s inclusion adds a fourth direct connection to Cairo from Saudi Arabia, joining Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam. Cairo’s appeal as a destination for tourism, business, and familial visits from Saudi Arabia underpins this route expansion.
New Destinations and Market Focus
Sohag, located on the west bank of the River Nile, is known as Egypt’s agricultural heartland. The new route from Jeddah to Sohag is aimed at serving this underserved market, facilitating more robust connections between Saudi Arabia and this region of Egypt. flyadeal also operates extensive pilgrimage charter flights supporting religious festivals such as Umrah and Hajj, alongside seasonal charters to the Egyptian resort of Sharm El-Sheikh.
Strategic Significance and Fleet Expansion
At the recent Routes 2024 airline conference in Bahrain, Steven Greenway, flyadeal’s CEO, highlighted Egypt as the airline’s largest international market. The planned route from Madinah to Cairo is strategically significant, designed to boost capacity during peak travel periods like Umrah and Hajj.
flyadeal’s fleet currently includes 36 aircraft, with an additional 58 aircraft on order from Airbus, encompassing 19 A320neos and 39 A321neos. These new aircraft are part of a substantial order placed by the Saudia Group, intended to support the rapid expansion of both Saudia and flyadeal’s fleet in line with Saudi Arabia’s ambitious aviation growth plans.
Considering Widebody Aircraft
During the Routes 2024 event, Greenway also disclosed plans to order widebody aircraft by the end of 2024, with Airbus A330 and Boeing 787 twinjets as the main contenders. The selection will likely lean towards the A330 due to fleet commonality, although Saudia’s operational experience with the Boeing 787 could influence the final decision. These widebodies are expected to feature a small premium cabin alongside a high-density economy section, reflecting flyadeal’s continued focus on budget-conscious travelers.
The shift in flight operations from an 80% domestic and 20% international ratio to 65% domestic and 35% international by late 2025 underscores the increasing importance of international routes in flyadeal’s strategy.