flyadeal has started the New Year by launching five new routes from Madinah, its newest operational base in the Kingdom. The expansion includes one international service and four domestic routes, strengthening the airline’s presence in the Holy City.
The new services connect Madinah with Sabiha Gökçen Airport in Istanbul, alongside domestic flights to Abha, Al Hofuf, Jazan, and Tabuk. This expansion increases the number of flyadeal destinations served from Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport from three to eight. Until now, the airline operated flights from Madinah to Dammam, Riyadh, and Cairo.
The added capacity represents a 40 per cent increase in weekly flights from Madinah, rising to 88 services per week. Two aircraft are now permanently based at the airport, which becomes flyadeal’s fourth operational base, alongside Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam.
To mark the launch, airport representatives joined flyadeal’s management team, led by Chief Commercial and Customer Officer Rogier van Enk, at the airport to meet passengers and mark the occasion.
Steven Greenway, flyadeal Chief Executive Officer, said:
“We’ve steadily built capacity from Madinah, but this expansion of five new routes at the beginning of the year is a statement of intent from flyadeal to develop Madinah into one of our key operational bases.
“Having aircraft positioned in Madinah gives us the flexibility to quickly upgrade with more frequencies or add routes to a schedule which will continue to be built up giving our customers more choices and convenience of direct flights to travel within the Kingdom and beyond. Madinah was a natural addition as a base given its prominence as the second holiest city in the Islamic world and key gateway for pilgrims.”
The expanded schedule supports flyadeal’s year-round Umrah services, which operate from several international markets directly into Madinah, located north of the port city of Jeddah.
Rogier van Enk, flyadeal Chief Commercial and Customer Officer, said:
“The additional routes aim to cater to both outbound travel for holidaymakers and business travellers living and working in and around Madinah, while also attracting inbound pilgrimages. My commercial team and I look forward to continue working with the authorities at Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport to explore more opportunities building air travel connectivity in line with Saudi Vision 2030.”
Demand on existing routes from Madinah remains strong. Services to Cairo now operate 11 times per week. Flights to Dammam have increased from 19 to 26 per week, while Riyadh continues with five daily services.
The four new domestic routes improve access across different regions of Saudi Arabia. These include Jazan on the southwest coast, Tabuk in the northwest, Al Hofuf in the Eastern Province, and Abha in the mountainous Aseer region.
flyadeal operates a fleet of 44 Airbus A320 aircraft. Around 60 per cent are based at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. Eleven aircraft operate from Jeddah, five from Dammam, and two are now positioned in Madinah.
The airline’s long-term growth plan includes expanding its fleet to more than 100 aircraft by 2030 and increasing its network to over 100 destinations within five years.
Tickets for the new Madinah routes are now available through the flyadeal mobile app, the airline’s website at www.flyadeal.com, and authorised travel agents.