Airline to offer first low-cost flights to Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabian low-cost airline flynas today confirmed the launch of a thrice weekly service from London Gatwick and Manchester to Jeddah.
Flights from Gatwick will start on April 8, with flights from Manchester launching in May.
The UK will be the first European country served by the Saudi-based airline.
Flynas is expecting to serve business travellers between the UK and Saudi Arabia and offer affordable fares to the UK’s Muslim population, for whom Saudi Arabia is a key destination for religious tourism, especially for those making pilgrimmages to Mecca.
Saudi Arabia is one of the key growth markets for inbound tourism to the UK and is among the top five highest spending markets for Britain, with the average spend per visit reaching £2,354 compared to an all-visitor average spend of just £600.
"The expansion of our network to include destinations that are seen as high-growth markets is a key element of our strategy to lead the airline into a new chapter of aggressive development," said NAS Holding group CEO Sulaiman Al Hamdan (pictured centre).
"It’s no surprise that the UK was the first country to be picked in Europe for the expansion of our route network. London continues to feature at the top of Saudi Arabia’s most popular outbound destinations especially during summer and key holiday periods."
He said the airline will offer a new concept of Low Cost Carrier Plus, which will offer passengers a choice of services and in-flight entertainment.
Other destinations that flynas plans to serve include Paris, France; Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Karachi in Pakistan and Casablanca.
Flynas has recently acquired Airbus A330 aircrafts and upgraded its in-flight offering to include a business class cabin with 12 lie-flat seats offering a 60-inch pitch, hot meal service and unlimited hot and cold drinks.
Economy passengers get a 32-inch seat pitch, in-flight entertainment and a 30Kg luggage allowance and they can buy meals on board, pay for extra in-flight entertainment, airport lounge access and a comfort pack.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
France prepares for a massive strike across all transports on September 18
Turkish tourism stalls due to soaring prices for accommodation and food
CCS Insight: eSIMs ready to take the travel world by storm
Germany new European Entry/Exit System limited to a single airport on October 12, 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt