Dubai
Saudi Arabia’s flynas is seeing a mixed reaction on it’s newly launched long haul services, according to its chief executive.
The airline started services to Indonesia, Malaysia, Morocco and the United Kingdom earlier this year as part of its restructuring plan.
Raja Azmi said in an interview on Tuesday that east bound flights, to Indonesia and Malaysia, are operating at 80 to 90 per cent capacity.
“It’s been very good,” Azmi said, adding that a lot of traffic is by Muslim travellers performing Umrah.
Flynas operate three times weekly from Jeddah to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia and to Jakarta in Indonesia and twice weekly into Surabaya in Indonesia.
However, it’s a different story west bound with routes to Morocco and the United Kingdom at 50 to 60 per cent of capacity
“It’s the seasonal pattern. By the time June comes it should be filled up,” Azmi said bullishly.
The airline flies three times weekly to Casablanca in Morocco and Manchester in the United Kingdom and once a week to London Gatwick.
Flynas is currently looking at starting Paris services, however, is constrained by bilateral agreements used up its competitor, Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia).
It is also looking at destinations in Africa, the United States, the Philippines, China and further destinations in Malaysia and Indonesia, Azmi said.
