Flyadeal Sets Q1 2026 Launch for India After Pakistan Buildout
The move underscores a cost-focused expansion strategy centered on pilgrimage traffic, with potential codeshares in India.
Overview
- CEO Steven Greenway said services to India will begin in the first quarter of 2026, with Mumbai likely to launch first and up to six cities targeted by the end of 2026 from hubs in Jeddah, Riyadh and Dammam.
- The airline is pursuing a codeshare with a domestic carrier in India to enable single-ticket itineraries and smoother connections.
- Flyadeal has added Lahore as its fifth destination in Pakistan, taking capacity to 18 scheduled weekly flights across Karachi, Islamabad, Peshawar, Sialkot and Lahore following local approvals.
- The carrier operates 42 A320-family aircraft, expects 46 by year-end 2025, and has 10 Airbus A330-900neos due from mid-2027 to support longer routes.
- Management frames the India entry around strict unit-cost discipline and demand from Hajj and Umrah travelers aligned with Saudi tourism objectives.