JEDDAH — flyadeal, Saudi Arabia’s everyday low fares airline, launched flights to Abha on Thursday (Feb. 1). Abha is the newest addition to flyadeal’s growing network, following Riyadh, Dammam, Al- Qassim and Jazan.

The airline will fly non-stop to the mountainous tourist destination twice daily from both Jeddah and Riyadh. Flight timings have a convenient double-daily schedule providing both morning and afternoon or evening options. The new flights from Jeddah and Riyadh pave the way for Customers to affordably travel to a region known for its unique weather and surrounded by scenic agricultural plateaus.

The first flight (F3 171) took off early morning on Thursday from King Abdulaziz Airport in Jeddah to Abha Regional Airport. Upon landing at Abha airport, the Airbus A320 aircraft named “Al-Janah”, a recent addition to flyadeal’s fleet of all brand-new Airbus A320 aircraft, was greeted with the customary water cannon salute.

A celebratory event was held at Abha airport’s Departures Hall in the presence of the Chairman of flyadeal and Director General of Saudi Arabian Airlines Corporation, Eng. Saleh Bin Nasser Al- Jasser; Regional Director Airports Fahd Bin Abdullah Al-Adwani; CEO of flyadeal Con Korfiatis, airport officials, staff and members of the press. After cutting the celebratory cake, the guests were also treated to a traditional dance showcasing the Asir province’s heritage.

“Al-Janah” then flew (flight No. F3 271) to King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, where further celebrations awaited customers and esteemed guests. The event was held at Terminal 5 in the presence of Al-Jasser, airport officials and the local press. The first customer on the flight from Riyadh to Abha also received a couple of surprises in the form of a flight voucher and an aircraft model.

Al-Jasser said: “Abha is vital for the Kingdom’s economy and tourism industry. It is an increasingly popular destination and flyadeal’s entry into the market will provide further seat capacity at affordable fares. The expansion into the Southern region aims to serve not only the region as a whole but also our military forces on the Southern front and across the Kingdom.”

Al-Adwani, regional director airports, commented: “The commencement of flyadeal’s flight operations to Abha is a positive development for the region. We also appreciate the General Authority of Civil Aviation’s (GACA) role in encouraging competition among airlines in the Kingdom. This has aided the expansion of the travel and tourism industry in Saudi Arabia led largely by flyadeal and other airlines’ growing network of operations.”

Korfiatis said: “Since the beginning of our operations, we have delivered on our promise of helping customers enjoy an affordable flight experience delivered with a great attitude. Today, as we continue to expand our network, we are pleased to bring our service to Abha, a city that has made its mark on the map of the Arab world’s tourist hotspots. Moreover, the rapid development of Abha’s infrastructure and the regional airport project presents a great opportunity for the Southern region. By booking early on flyadeal.com, Customers can enjoy the lowest fares and conveniently access this perfect holiday destination. However, seats are limited and when they’re gone, they’re gone.” — SG