Air Arabia-led Consortium to Launch New Airline

Saudi Arabia is adding a new national low-cost airline, which will be based at King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, and will be the fifth in the Kingdom. The other four airlines operating in Saudi Arabia are Flyadeal, flynas, Saudia and Riyadh Air.

Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has selected a consortium comprising Air Arabia, Nesma Group, and KUN Holding to establish and operate the ow-cost airline, which aims to enhance domestic and international air connectivity for the Eastern Province, Air Arabia said in a disclosure with Dubai Financial Market (DFM) this morning.

Winning the bid marks the culmination of a shared vision and strategic partnership among the three parties, focused on delivering an efficient operating model that supports the objectives of the Kingdom’s aviation program goals, improves service quality for travellers, and contributes to driving national economic growth.

The new national low-cost carrier is targeting to operate 24 domestic and 57 international destinations with 45 aircraft by 2030, aiming to serve around 10 million passengers annually from Dammam and the Eastern Province.

The project is projected to create over 2,400 direct jobs in the aviation sector and significantly contribute to tourism growth and local economic development in the region.

According to media reports, the new airline will operate a fleet of 45 aircraft, serving 24 domestic and 57 international destinations. With a target of transporting 10 million passengers annually by 2030, it aims to make air travel more accessible and affordable, particularly for residents of Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province.

By offering competitive fares and a no-frills experience, the airline will cater to budget-conscious travellers, reducing reliance on pricier flights from major hubs like Riyadh and Jeddah.

Helps in Economic Growth

Air Arabia Group CEO Adel Al Ali said that as a leading low-cost airline operator in the region, this achievement represents a key milestone that reaffirms their commitment to support the growth and development of the Kingdom’s aviation sector.

“Through our proven economic model and regional expertise, this new partnership will deliver a reliable and value-driven travel experience for passengers and will contribute to economic growth and job creation in the Eastern Province and beyond,” Ali added.

Nesma Group President Faisal Bin Saleh Al-Turki. and KUN Holding CEO Mohamed Bin Nabil Hefni, said that they were proud to be part of this ambitious national initiative, which was the result of a strategic partnership with Air Arabia Group.

This initiative aligns with the impressive developments in the Kingdom’s tourism and aviation sectors. Launching a new low-cost carrier from Dammam is not merely an air transport project, but a direct contribution to strengthening the tourism infrastructure and stimulating the local economy of the Eastern Province.

This includes creating high-quality jobs, empowering national talent, and supporting aviation-related commercial activities, they said.

“We believe this project reflects the private sector’s role in supporting the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 and embodies the spirit of partnership between the public and private sectors to achieve transformative strides in sustainable development. We look forward to this carrier becoming a model of local and international collaboration, strengthening the Kingdom’s position as a leading regional and global tourism destination,” they added.