RIYADH, Jan 26, 2026 (GDM) – Saudi low-cost carrier flyadeal announced Monday it carried over 10 million passengers in 2025 for the first time in a calendar year, marking a major expansion milestone as the kingdom pushes to become a global tourism hub.
Passenger numbers grew 33% to 10.7 million, outstripping a 21% increase in seat capacity, the airline said. The carrier, owned by Saudia Group, also expanded its route network by 66% and was ranked the most punctual budget airline in the Middle East and North Africa for the year.
“This demonstrated our focus on planning, innovating and investing in flyadeal’s network, fleet, resources and, more importantly, our people,” said CEO Steven Greenway in a statement.
The growth reflects Saudi Arabia’s aggressive tourism push under its Vision 2030 economic plan. The airline launched flights to Pakistan and Syria, expanded pilgrim travel for Hajj and Umrah, and opened a new operational base in Madinah.
Flyadeal, which began operations in 2017, also placed its first wide-body aircraft order last year for 10 Airbus A330neos to launch long-haul services from 2027.
The airline’s aggressive strategy mirrors a regional trend where budget carriers are capitalizing on relaxed visa rules and major tourism investments. The Saudi Ministry of Tourism aims to attract 150 million visitors annually by 2030, a goal aviation is central to achieving. Flyadeal plans to more than double its fleet and triple its destinations within the decade