JEDDAH 26 August 2017: The Saudi flag carrier Saudia, has launched its new affiliate low-cost airline, Flyadeal, during an event at the King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah.
According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), Saleh bin Nasser Al Jasser, Director-General of Saudia and Chairman of Flyadeal, stated that the airline will operate its first domestic flight on 23rd September, to coincide with the Kingdom’s National Day, said Wam.
The venture is part of the Saudia Group’s SV2020 Transformation Strategy, which aims to develop the group’s subsidiaries into world-class organisations by 2020, he added.
Flyadeal will cater to domestic travellers, Haj and Umrah pilgrims, and the rising number of tourists to Saudi Arabia, as well as other groups. The carrier will initially operate flights to major domestic destinations, including Riyadh and Dammam, before expanding to other regional markets.
The first aircraft in the Flyadeal fleet, an Airbus A320-200, was received in Jeddah, yesterday, added SPA.
DAE delivers new A320 to startup airline flyadeal
DUBAI: Dubai Aerospace Enterprise, DAE, has announced the delivery of an Airbus A320-200 aircraft to new customer, flyadeal. The delivery took place at the Airbus delivery centre in Hamburg, Germany, and represents the first aircraft in the flyadeal fleet.
The Dubai-based lessor has agreed to lease eight Airbus A320 family aircraft to the new Saudi Arabian low-cost airline. All aircraft will come equipped with CFM 56-5B4/3 PIP engines. These modern, fuel-efficient planes will be delivered in 2017 and 2018 and are part of a direct order DAE has with Airbus.
flyadeal is a subsidiary of the Saudi Arabian Airlines group. The airline will offer low-cost travel options to leisure and business travellers and service destinations in the Middle-East and beyond. flyadeal will begin flight operations in September 2017.
Commenting on the deal, DAE Chief Executive Officer, Firoz Tarapore, said, “DAE is pleased to welcome flyadeal on-board as a new customer. This transaction demonstrates our capital strength and our ability to provide comprehensive solutions to airline clients. We are delighted to be able to support flyadeal’s fleet strategy as it begins operations, and we look forward to working with the airline to fulfill its fleet ambitions, going forward.”
Chief Executive Officer of flyadeal, Con Korfiatis, said, “flyadeal has selected key partners from across the aviation industry to deliver services that provide the most economical solutions for flyadeal’s low-fare, high value business model. Dubai Aerospace Enterprise’s long-standing presence in aviation solutions presented the ideal platform to build the new fleet for flyadeal.”
By Rajive Singh