Flyadeal Launches Mumbai–Riyadh Flights Amid Saudi Push Into India

Flyadeal has launched a nonstop service between Mumbai and Riyadh, its second Indian destination after Hyderabad—an expansion that adds a new link to the Saudi capital.

Sanjiv Kapoor, the airline’s acting chief executive, told NDTV that the move comes amid growing traffic forecasts for India and a broader GCC strategy to capture the price‑sensitive market.

"Fuel prices are now double what they were last year, yet we’re keeping our schedule and growth targets on track," Kapoor said, noting that higher fuel costs and periodic airspace closures have forced airlines to rethink routes.

The carrier is eyeing additional cities—Lucknow, Calicut, Ahmedabad and Surat—planning to launch up to five new Indian routes by 2025, a roadmap that would triple its current Indian footprint.

For Mumbai businessman Rajesh Kumar, who flies to Riyadh twice a year for trade shows, the new flight means a shorter trip and better connectivity for his expanding regional ventures.

Negotiations between Saudi and Indian ministries are underway to liberalise bilateral traffic, potentially opening more Indian airports to Saudi carriers. The next step: Flyadeal will file for slots at Lucknow and Calicut next month.