Saudi Arabian low cost carrier flyadeal reported surpassing the 10 million annual passenger mark in 2025 in a “record-breaking” year for the airline.

The 33% increase in passengers saw flyadeal outstripped the carrier’s 21% seat capacity increase during 2025.

The airline operated 66% more routes compared with 2024 thanks to an growing fleet international expansion and its biggest ever uplift of Hajj and Umrah pilgrims.

The number of worshippers flown into the Kingdom on dedicated pilgrim flights increased by over 100% to 220,000.

Seasonal and year-round scheduled destinations increased 50% across Saudia Arabia, in the Middle East, Europe, North Africa and South Asia.

Other notable landmarks in 2025 included:

• The opening of a new Operations Control Centre, four times bigger than the older facility;
• Madinah was announced as the airline’s fourth operational base;
• flyadeal became the first Saudi carrier to wet-lease aircraft into and out of the Kingdom;
• Saudi cabin crew were trained as accredited tour guides, a regional first.

The airline also implemented a new distribution strategy widening reach to travel agents by joining the global industry body International Air Transport Association (IATA).

And in another first, the budget airline signed up to its first-ever loyalty scheme partnering with AlFursan, the rewards programme of sister carrier Saudia, that enables members to earn and burn reward miles on flights operated by flyadeal.

Towards the end of 2025 flyadeal was named as the most punctual low-cost airline in the Middle East and North Africa with On-Time Performance (OTP) averaging almost 90% for the full year.

And for the second time in its history, flyadeal was the world’s most punctual airline in both the low-cost and full-service airline category in June 2025 achieving 91.77% operational performance based on flights within 15 minutes of scheduled arrival.

Steven Greenway, flyadeal chief executive, said: “2025 proved an incredible year for flyadeal with so many milestones and achievements to record.

“This demonstrated our focus on planning, innovating and investing in flyadeal’s network, fleet, resources and, more importantly, our people. We showed agility, ability and action – quick to respond to challenges and embrace opportunities.

“With a big international push opening new markets such as Pakistan and Syria, growing operations in Egypt and expanding our global reach for inbound pilgrim travel, we were able to scale up and act fast to build a healthy network of domestic and international routes during the peak summer season and throughout the year.

“Our foundation became stronger, bigger and better. Team flyadeal performed exceptionally well with drive and energy, and with 2026 promising to be yet another year of significant growth, exciting developments are in the pipeline across the company over the next 12 months.”

Captain Abdulaziz Bahri, flyadeal chief operating officer, added: “Working with 16 additional aircraft during the course of 2025, a mix of eight newly-delivered planes to boost our fleet for schedule flying and eight on wet-lease to handle complex yet well managed Hajj and Umrah operations from around the world, we showed our mettle to deliver arguably the best year in the history of flyadeal with record-breaking punctuality figures.”

Flyadeal’s 2025 Operational Highlights (with some 12-month comparisons over Jan – Dec 2024)

• Flew 10.7 million passengers (+33%) to surpass 10 million for the first time.
• Seat capacity up +21%.
• Operated 159 routes (+66%) from flyadeal’s three bases in the Kingdom.
• 43 seasonal and year-round scheduled destinations (+50%).
• Fleet reached 44 Airbus A320 aircraft (+8).
• Operated eight wet-leased aircraft (+5).
• Flew 220,000 Hajj and Umrah passengers on dedicated pilgrim flights (+107%).
• Wet-leased aircraft from Asia’s Cebu Pacific as part of commercial pact.
• Placed first-ever widebody order – 10 Airbus A330s.
• Launched five destinations in Pakistan which marked flyadeal’s entry into South Asia.
• Introduced scheduled flights to the Syrian capital Damascus for the first time.
• Madinah announced as flyadeal’s fourth operational base in Saudi Arabia.
• Most punctual low-cost airline in Middle East and North Africa in 2025 (Cirium data).
• Globally number one for On-Time Performance in June 2025 (Cirium data).
• Opened new Operations Control Centre at Jeddah HQ.

Key Achievements and Milestones (2025):

• Headcount topped 1,800 employees (+26%).
• New govt-backed Saudi cadet pilot training programme. Target 150 pilots over 24 months.
• Introduced the company’s first-ever student internship programme.
• Launched a regional first: Saudi cabin crew trained as certified national tour guides.
• Joined AlFursan, loyalty rewards programme of sister airline Saudia.
• Signed up with Amadeus – airline’s first agreement with a Global Distribution System.
• Joined global industry body, International Air Transport Association (IATA).