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Saudi Arabian low cost airline flyadeal will launch three new domestic routes from Madinah on March 1, 2026, significantly strengthening the holy city’s role in the kingdom’s fast expanding tourism and aviation network.
New Routes Extend Madinah’s Domestic Reach
Flyadeal is set to begin services from Madinah to Jazan, Qassim and Arar from March 1, 2026, expanding the carrier’s domestic map and deepening air access across Saudi Arabia’s regions. The three additions will lift the number of nonstop destinations served from Madinah to 10 and increase weekly departures from the city to 94, according to recent network updates from the airline and industry trackers.
The new links complement existing flyadeal routes from Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport to Abha, Al Hofuf, Dammam, Riyadh and Tabuk, as well as international flights to Cairo and Istanbul. They form the second major wave of growth from Madinah after the airline opened a base there at the start of 2026 with five initial destinations, including Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen and several domestic cities in the kingdom’s south and east.
Industry data published this week confirms that Jazan, Qassim and Arar will be integrated into the Madinah schedule as part of a broader reshaping of flyadeal’s Saudi network, with multiple weekly frequencies planned on each sector. The move is expected to improve schedule choice for residents and business travellers while providing new one stop options to international markets via the airline’s other hubs.
Madinah Emerges as Flyadeal’s Newest Strategic Base
The launch of the three routes continues the transformation of Madinah into flyadeal’s fourth operational base after Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam. Two Airbus A320 aircraft were stationed in the city from January 1, 2026, with plans to double that number by the end of the year. Positioning aircraft in Madinah allows the carrier to offer early morning departures, tighter turnarounds and more efficient use of its single aisle fleet.
Executives have described the decision to base aircraft in Madinah as a natural step, reflecting both the city’s status as Islam’s second holiest site and the strong underlying demand from domestic travellers and international pilgrims. Establishing a base also gives flyadeal more flexibility to open new cross border routes in the future, particularly to South Asia and other high volume pilgrimage and visiting friends and relatives markets.
Aviation analysts say the rapid build up at Madinah aligns closely with the kingdom’s wider aviation strategy under Saudi Vision 2030, which seeks to turn Saudi Arabia into a leading global hub for travel and tourism. By deepening its presence in key religious and regional cities, flyadeal is positioning itself as a core provider of affordable connectivity for both citizens and visitors.
Boost for Religious Tourism and Regional Development
Madinah plays a central role in Saudi Arabia’s religious tourism industry, welcoming millions of pilgrims each year who travel on to Mecca or stay to visit the Prophet’s Mosque and other historic Islamic sites. Additional domestic flights from cities such as Jazan, Qassim and Arar are expected to make journeys simpler for worshippers from across the kingdom, particularly ahead of peak Umrah and Hajj seasons.
For secondary cities, the new services promise economic benefits that go beyond religious travel. Improved air access typically stimulates demand for hotels, transportation services and small businesses, and can encourage investment in local tourism and logistics projects. Jazan and Abha in the south, as well as Tabuk and Arar in the north, have all been earmarked by Saudi authorities for greater tourism promotion, including eco, heritage and adventure products that complement the country’s traditional pilgrimage offerings.
Travel industry observers note that more frequent and competitively priced domestic flights are crucial if Saudi Arabia is to meet its target of attracting 150 million annual visitors by 2030. Low cost carriers such as flyadeal are expected to carry a growing share of that traffic, particularly on short haul routes that link regional cities with the country’s main gateways.
Supporting Vision 2030 Through Low Cost Connectivity
Flyadeal’s expansion from Madinah comes as the airline pursues a broader growth plan that aims to balance its domestic and international operations by the end of the decade. While the majority of its flights still operate within Saudi Arabia, the carrier has been steadily adding cross border services to nearby markets in the Middle East and South Asia as aircraft deliveries allow.
Under Saudi Vision 2030, aviation is seen as a key enabler of economic diversification, with new airports, airlines and tourism projects designed to attract foreign visitors and support non oil sectors. By adding high frequency, no frills services on routes that were previously underserved or required connections, flyadeal is helping to lower the cost of travel and increase mobility for residents, expatriate workers and tourists alike.
Network specialists point out that the Madinah build up also complements the growth of other Saudi carriers, including the national airline and new long haul operators, by feeding passengers into larger hubs and distributing inbound traffic more evenly across the country. In this context, the three new routes from March 1 are viewed not only as incremental additions but as part of a carefully sequenced effort to strengthen Saudi Arabia’s internal air grid.
Competitive Landscape and Passenger Experience
The additional Madinah routes arrive amid intensifying competition among low cost and full service airlines in the Gulf, many of which are upgrading fleets and opening new city pairs. For passengers, this is translating into more choice of departure points, greater flexibility on travel dates and, in many cases, sharper pricing on domestic itineraries.
Flyadeal operates an all economy Airbus A320 fleet with a focus on straightforward, digital first booking and ancillary services such as seat selection and baggage options. As it rolls out new Madinah routes, the carrier is expected to maintain quick turnarounds and point to point scheduling that suit both short religious trips and regular journeys for work or family visits.
Airport operators in Madinah are preparing for higher passenger volumes as the March launch approaches, with attention on ground handling, check in and security flows during peak hours. For local tourism stakeholders, the priority will be converting stronger air connectivity into longer stays and higher visitor spending, ensuring the new flights deliver long lasting benefits to the city and the wider region.