First flight of Saudi low-fare airline ‘Flyadeal’ lands at Karachi airport

KARACHI: Saudi Arabia’s new airline, Flyadeal, which is famous for offering cheaper flights, has launched its flight operations to Pakistan, Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) said in a statement on Saturday.

The first Flyadeal flight, F3-661, arrived from Saudi Arabia at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport at 8:04 AM, the PAA’s spokesperson said.

Upon arrival, the Flyadeal aircraft was given a water salute at Karachi Airport, he added.

The airline will operate two weekly flights to Karachi — one from Jeddah and the other from Riyadh.

According to Arab News, Flyadeal is a Saudi low-cost airline headquartered at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah. It is a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s flag carrier, Saudia, that commenced operations on Sept. 23, 2017. Initially, it served domestic destinations within the Kingdom. On Jun. 10, 2022, the airline expanded its network by launching flights from Dammam to Cairo.

Two more Pakistani Airlines to launch flights to UAE

Yesterday, Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) agreed to expand flights between the two countries, aiming to enhance connectivity and strengthen their long-standing partnership.

Pakistan’s Ambassador to the UAE, Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, told Gulf News that the agreement is a significant step in increasing bilateral trade and economic cooperation with one of Pakistan’s key partners in the Middle East.

The deal, finalised this week after discussions with UAE authorities, includes the introduction of new low-cost airline services. Under this agreement, Pakistan’s AirSial will launch flights from three Pakistani cities to Abu Dhabi, while Wizz Air will operate routes between Abu Dhabi and two Pakistani cities. These new services are expected to commence within the next two to three months, with final details to be announced soon.

Currently, at least eight airlines, including Emirates, Etihad Airways, FlyDubai, PIA, Fly Jinnah, Air Arabia, Serene Air, and Air Blue operate flights between Pakistan and UAE.

The development comes ahead of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to the UAE in February, where he will participate in the World Government Summit. His visit is expected to open further avenues for cooperation, particularly in trade, investment, and employment opportunities for skilled Pakistani workers.