Carrier to begin Riyadh-Hyderabad flights from July as part of wider India expansion plans
Saudi Arabian low-cost carrier flyadeal has announced its entry into the Indian market with the launch of its first scheduled passenger service to the country.
The airline will begin operating flights between Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport and Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport from 1 July 2026. The new route marks a significant milestone for the carrier as it expands its international network and strengthens air connectivity between Saudi Arabia and India.
According to flyadeal, Hyderabad has been selected as its first destination in India, reflecting growing demand for travel between the two countries. The airline said the move is supported by long-standing economic, social and cultural links between India and Saudi Arabia.
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Sanjiv Kapoor, Acting Chief Executive Officer of flyadeal and Executive Vice President of Strategies at Saudia Group, described the Hyderabad launch as the first phase of the airline’s planned expansion into India
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He also confirmed that a second Indian destination is expected to be added to the carrier’s network in the near future, although further details have not yet been announced
While the Hyderabad route represents flyadeal’s debut in India as a scheduled operator, the airline is not entirely new to the market. In recent years, it has operated charter flights carrying Hajj and Umrah pilgrims between India and Saudi Arabia. These services primarily supported religious travel to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, with many flights linked to Jeddah, where flyadeal maintains a major operating base.
The new Riyadh-Hyderabad service will be operated using Airbus A320neo aircraft configured with 186 all-economy seats. The airline expects the route to serve both leisure and visiting friends and relatives (VFR) traffic, while also supporting growing business links between the two nations.
The launch further highlights increasing aviation ties between India and Saudi Arabia, one of the Gulf region’s most important travel and trade partners.
