Why Flyadeal Eyes on Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates for Airline Expansion Rather than European Cities?

Prioritizing the GCC: More Growth Potential

Flyadeal, a subsidiary of the Saudi Arabian national carrier Saudia, has been rapidly expanding its operations, with an ambitious target to grow its fleet from 35 to 88 aircraft over the next four years. The airline currently operates predominantly within Saudi Arabia, with 80% of its flights serving domestic routes and the remaining 20% focusing on international destinations. However, with the arrival of new aircraft, Flyadeal plans to shift this balance to 65% domestic and 35% international by 2028, with a clear focus on the GCC and neighboring regions.

Challenges of Expanding into Europe

Strategic Focus on Regional Growth

In contrast to Europe, the Middle East and the broader GCC region offer a much friendlier environment for aviation expansion. The GCC nations, which include Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, and Bahrain, are rapidly developing their aviation sectors, driven by strong economic growth and increasing demand for both business and leisure travel.

By prioritizing depth and network footprint over simply increasing the number of destinations served, Flyadeal aims to build a sustainable and profitable business model. This means focusing on strengthening connections within high-demand regions rather than expanding aggressively into new, high-cost markets like Europe.

Fleet Expansion to Support Growth

The widebody aircraft will enable Flyadeal to serve long-haul routes, including destinations that fall outside the five-hour flight radius currently under evaluation. However, the airline is cautious about overextending itself and remains committed to its core philosophy of offering affordable travel options with high cabin density, similar to a bus service.

Competing in a Dynamic Market

Looking Ahead