flyadeal makes Madinah its newest base, adds five routes

Dubai: Saudi low-cost carrier flyadeal will make Madinah its newest operational base from January 2026, the airline revealed Monday – the opening day of Dubai Airshow.

Two Airbus A320 aircraft will be permanently stationed at Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport, alongside existing flyadeal bases in Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam.

CEO Steven Greenway said: “We already operate 70-80 flights a week into Madinah. When you reach a certain scale, it just makes sense to base aircraft there. Madinah was a natural addition given its prominence and the high demand.”

“With scale comes opportunities,” he said. “Passenger demand in Madinah simply demands our resources to be spread out. Madinah was a natural addition, given its status as the second holiest city in the Islamic world and its unique position as a global pilgrimage hub,” he added.

Starting January 1, 2026, flyadeal will launch domestic flights from Madinah to Jazan, Tabuk, Al Hofuf, and Abha. Internationally, Sabiha Gökçen Airport in Istanbul will be added as the second non-domestic destination from Madinah, with further cross-border routes planned over the coming months.

The announcement will boost the airline’s Madinah capacity by 30 per cent, growing to 84 scheduled domestic and international services per week. Greenway emphasised, “Our dedicated capacity will support growth in outbound travel and year-round religious movements.”

As a gateway for pilgrims, Madinah is a year-round magnet for inbound religious traffic and a launchpad for both domestic and international journeys. flyadeal currently operates year-round Umrah flights from several countries and domestically connects Madinah to Dammam and Riyadh, plus international services to Cairo.

Captain Abdulaziz Bahri, Chief Operating Officer, said, “The importance of Madinah cannot be underestimated. Increased frequencies will give greater choice, and our operations team is committed to building a sustainable set-up which will strengthen as we receive more aircraft.”

Greenway and Bahri highlighted flyadeal’s aim to reach 100 aircraft by 2030 and more than triple its network to over 100 destinations in five years. The current fleet of 43 A320s is largely divided between Riyadh (70 per cent), Jeddah, and Dammam, supporting rapid growth across Saudi Arabia’s principal cities.

“Taking delivery of new aircraft allows us to bring Madinah into our network with dedicated resources, supporting demand from pilgrims and expanding options for all travellers,” added Bahri.