flyadeal, the LCC owned by flag carrier Saudi Arabian Airlines, launched services to Abha (AHB) on 1 February, with double-daily flights from both Riyadh and Jeddah

The tourist destination in the mountainous south-west of Saudi Arabia is the latest addition to the airline’s network, joining the likes of Dammam, Gassim and Gizan. The first flight (F3171) was flown by the LCC’s A320 named “Al-Janah”, a recent addition to the airline’s fleet. Con Korfiatis, flyadeal CEO 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 hot spots.” Competition on both routes is intense, with parent Saudi Arabian offering 72 and 91 weekly flights on the sectors to Jeddah and Riyadh, with fellow LCCs flynas providing 19 and 28 weekly services, and SaudiGulf Airlines operating five and 14 weekly flights respectively.

aenna