Saudi budget airline Flyadeal starts India operations

Saudi Arabia’s low-cost carrier, flyadeal, has officially made its debut in the Indian aviation market. A subsidiary of the Saudia Group, the budget airline has chosen Hyderabad as its first gateway into the country.

The new route marks a significant milestone in flyadeal’s international expansion strategy as it targets one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation spaces.

1. Flight Schedule & Fleet Setup

The airline is introducing regular, high-frequency connectivity to cater to business travelers, tourists, and the massive Indian expatriate diaspora:

• The Route: Direct daily (seven times weekly) flights between Riyadh (RUH) and Hyderabad (HYD).
• The Aircraft: The daily route is being operated using 186-seat Airbus A320neo aircraft configured in an all-economy layout. The cabins feature modern amenities, including USB-A and USB-C charging outlets at every seat alongside enlarged overhead storage.
• Timings:
  • Riyadh to Hyderabad: Departs at 11:20 PM and arrives at 6:50 AM the following morning.
  • Hyderabad to Riyadh: Departs at 7:55 AM and touches down at 11:05 AM.

2. Onward Domestic Connectivity

Beyond the direct connection to Riyadh, the partnership provides a major benefit for outbound travelers from India. Passengers flying out of Hyderabad will be able to utilize flyadeal’s extensive internal network for seamless onward connections to multiple cities across Saudi Arabia.

3. Boosting Hyderabad’s Aviation Stature

The addition of flyadeal strengthens Rajiv Gandhi International Airport’s (managed by GMR) footprint as a major global aviation hub.

With this entry, Hyderabad Airport’s international network expands to link passengers across 24 international and 76 domestic destinations. According to GMR Hyderabad Airport CEO Kadhir Kadhiravan, the corridor is expected to create fresh avenues for bilateral tourism and trade between the two regions.