flyadeal CEO: Why India, UAE are the next hot spots for Saudi low-cost airline after Pakistan

Dubai: Saudia Group's flyadeal, the budget sister concern of national carrier Saudia, is making a bold shift in its international ambitions, putting India and the UAE front and centre in its future route plans.

CEO Steven Greenway, who spoke to Gulf News ahead of the Dubai Airshow on Monday, said these destinations are critical to the next phase of growth—despite an industry-wide aircraft shortage throttling the pace of expansion.

“We were ready to launch services to several cities in India this year,” Greenway said. “But the continued supply chain headaches—especially delayed new aircraft deliveries—mean we’ve had to slow down and rethink our timeline.”

Greenway’s target is clear: “We’re focused on connecting more Indian cities and strengthening links to Dubai and Sharjah, as soon as we have the capacity,” he said.

Greenway’s comments also come fresh after the airline opened five destinations in Pakistan this year. “Lahore was just the last one a couple of weeks ago,” he said, adding, “We're really happy, but we want more frequencies, and we're working towards that.”  

The airline hopes to fly to Delhi and Mumbai by quarter one next year, “and then some secondary cities, still yet to be determined.”

Expat, pilgrim, tourism demand swells

India is home to one of the largest expatriate populations in Saudi Arabia—with over three million residents. At the same time, religious pilgrimage traffic remains robust, and new, more liberal visa policies are driving fresh tourism demand between Saudi and the subcontinent.

“It’s not just about Saudi travellers anymore,” Greenway explained. “We see huge growth in Indians heading home, expats crossing to the UAE, and especially people coming for Umrah and business. Our network is designed to work for all these segments.”

The airline’s plans for the UAE focus on Dubai and Sharjah, two gateways that are highly valued by both leisure and business passengers.

Aircraft constraints choke growth

Despite strong market demand, flyadeal faces severe aircraft delivery constraints. “We’ll only see a net gain of one aircraft next year,” said Greenway. “It’s tough—we have the routes and demand, but not enough planes to fully realise the opportunity.”

Greenway added, “We’re flying our current fleet harder and longer—sometimes up to 13 hours a day. We’re looking at every option, including flexibility via wet leasing during peak periods. But the supply chain crunch will hold us back at least another year.”

This caution does not dampen the airline’s expansion appetite: “As soon as we get new deliveries, India and UAE are top of the list,” Greenway affirmed.

Still Greenway believes supply chain constraints, an issue that has been plaguing the aviation industry post-pandemic, will continue for the foreseeable future.

"This is a supply chain issue that has been with us for three to four years. This is not disappearing next year or the year after this is, this is with us for the next three to five years," Greenway said.

Building a robust international network

Looking ahead, flyadeal expects its future aircraft to be deployed primarily on international services.
“Domestic routes are still the backbone of our business, but most of our growth and new planes are aimed at international markets like India and the UAE,” Greenway said.

He emphasised the importance of secondary cities in both countries: “We’re not just chasing big cities. Short-haul international expansion means opening direct links that have been underserved, especially for VFR [visiting friends and relatives], religious travel, and the growing flow of tourists.”

What’s holding Saudi growth back?

For now, Greenway believes supply chain woes are the biggest drag on Saudi aviation’s international ambitions. “The demand is there—especially for India and the UAE. But airlines simply can’t get enough planes quickly enough to move at the speed the market wants,” he warned.

Nonetheless, with Saudi aviation policy favouring open skies and investment in travel infrastructure, Greenway remains optimistic: “The numbers for next year look strong. Our long-term strategy is clear—when the aircraft arrive, India and UAE will be leading our expansion.”