Saudi Arabia – Saudi Arabia is reportedly preparing to launch two additional airlines to complement its existing carriers—Saudia, Riyadh Air, flynas and flyadeal—marking another major expansion of the Kingdom’s aviation sector under Vision 2030.
- According to comments made by Fahd Hamidaddin, CEO of the Saudi Tourism Authority, at the Cityscape Global conference, three new carriers are expected to join the Kingdom’s aviation landscape, one of which has already been publicly announced.
- The first of the new airlines will be a low-cost carrier headquartered at King Fahd International Airport (DMM) in Dammam. In July 2025, GACA confirmed that a consortium led by UAE-based Air Arabia—alongside Kun Investment Holding and Nesma Holding—had been selected to launch the airline.
- The Dammam-based carrier is planned to operate a fleet of 45 aircraft by 2030, serving 24 domestic destinations and 57 international routes.
- The second planned airline is understood to focus on religious tourism, reflecting Saudi Arabia’s rapid expansion of infrastructure to serve Hajj and Umrah travel markets.
- Details on the third new carrier have not yet been disclosed, though officials have signalled significant further expansion ahead.
- At Dubai Airshow last week, Riyadh Air announced an order for 120 CFM International LEAP-1A engines to power its 60 Airbus A321neo family aircraft ordered in 2024, underscoring the pace of fleet growth across the Saudi aviation ecosystem.
Source: Saudi Tourism Authority
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