flyadeal arrives in Mumbai, strengthening air connectivity between India and Saudi Arabia

flyadeal, the fast-growing low-cost carrier of Saudia Group and one of the GCC's largest budget airlines, has expanded its presence in India with the launch of non-stop flights between Riyadh and Mumbai. The new route marks Mumbai as the airline's second destination in India, following the successful introduction of services to Hyderabad earlier this year.

The inaugural Riyadh-Mumbai flight operated on 3 October 2026 and was piloted by flyadeal Chief Operating Officer Captain Abdulaziz Bahri alongside Chief Pilot Captain Ali Hakim. The launch follows the carrier's entry into the Indian market in July 2026 with the commencement of flights to Hyderabad, underlining India’s growing strategic importance within flyadeal's international network.

flyadeal will operate the Mumbai-Riyadh route five times weekly using its Airbus A320neo fleet, adding more than 7,400 seats per month between the two cities. The new service strengthens air links between India and Saudi Arabia while offering travellers increased flexibility and competitive travel options.

Flight schedules have been designed to maximise connectivity, with convenient morning arrivals in both Mumbai and Riyadh. Passengers can seamlessly connect onward through Riyadh to key destinations across Saudi Arabia, including Abha, Dammam, Jeddah and Madinah, on a single itinerary with through-checked baggage and integrated fares.

The route is served by flyadeal's modern Airbus A320neo aircraft, configured with 186 Economy Class seats. Each seat is equipped with USB-A or USB-C charging ports, while the aircraft feature Airbus' award-winning Airspace cabin, incorporating larger overhead storage bins, enhanced lighting and a contemporary interior designed to improve passenger comfort throughout the journey.

Sanjiv Kapoor, acting Chief Executive Officer, flyadeal and Executive Vice President Strategies at Saudia Group commented: "India is one of the world's largest and fastest-growing aviation markets and a strategic priority for flyadeal as we continue to expand our international network. With Saudi Arabia now one of India's top three largest international travel markets and travel and tourism flows between the two countries continuing to grow, we see tremendous potential to connect more travellers through convenient, affordable and reliable services.As the third-largest low-cost airline in the Middle East region, we are committed to strengthening our presence in India, and Mumbai is an important milestone in that journey. Beyond connecting Mumbai with Saudi Arabia's capital, the new service also opens up convenient access to destinations across the Kingdom through seamless onward connections on a single booking. Importantly, flyadeal flights use the state-of-the-art Terminal 1 at Jeddah with bullet train access directly from the terminal to both Makkah and Madinah, as well as Terminal 4 at Riyadh which offers quick and seamless connections to flyadeal’s extensive domestic network. Combined with other new initiatives that provide greater flexibility, convenience, and peace of mind when planning travel, we are enhancing the overall customer experience while remaining committed to delivering dependable travel at affordable fares."

Driving Vision 2030 Through Enhanced Connectivity

The expansion of flyadeal's operations in India reflects the carrier's commitment to supporting Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030. Through the continued growth of its international network, flyadeal is helping facilitate greater mobility, strengthen economic and tourism links, and reinforce the Kingdom's aspirations to become a global travel and aviation powerhouse.