MEA aviation market projected to reach $44.7B by 2030, flyadeal’s launches new flights to Pakistan, Saudia goes direct flights from Chattogram to Jeddah, Riyadh Air partners with LIV Golf, Muscat International Airport welcomes charter flight from Slovakia, QAIA celebrates exceptional year in 2024, Hamad International Airport opens new Concourse E, and more.
MEA aviation market to reach $44.7B by 2030
The Middle East and Africa aviation market is projected to grow from $34.4 billion in 2025 to $44.7 billion by 2030, driven by increased passenger demand and modernisation efforts. The region’s MRO market is also expected to expand from $10.04 billion to $12.86 billion during the same period. The growth prospects will be discussed at the upcoming MRO Middle East and Aircraft Interiors Middle East (AIME) events in Dubai, which will bring together key industry players to drive business growth and explore emerging trends in aircraft maintenance, digitalisation, and passenger experience.
Abu Dhabi Airports reports record-breaking 29M passengers in 2024
Abu Dhabi Airports has announced a significant milestone in its 2024 performance, welcoming more than 29 million passengers, a 28.1% increase compared to the previous year. The growth was driven by Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH), which launched 29 new routes and welcomed eight new airlines, including British Airways and Aegean Airlines. The airport also saw a 10% increase in aircraft movements and a 21% increase in cargo traffic, handling 678,990 tonnes in 2024.
flynas launches direct Madinah-Karachi, and Jeddah-El Alamein flights
flynas has announced the launch of two weekly direct flights between Prince Muhammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah and Karachi in Pakistan, starting from 5 March; and between Jeddah and El Alamein on Egypt’s north coast, from 1 July, in addition to its existing Riyadh-El Alamein route. The new service will operate two weekly flights from King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah to El Alamein International Airport. These expansions are part of the carrier’s growth plan aligning with the Kingdom’s wim to connect with 250 international destinations and accommodate 330 million passengers by 2030.
flyadeal celebrates 7.9M passengers and historic aircraft order
flyadeal has reported a record year in 2024, carrying 7.9M passengers, a 14.5% increase from 2023. The airline achieved several milestones, including placing an historic order for 51 Airbus A320neo family aircraft, taking delivery of its first fully owned aircraft, and securing IATA’s Operational Safety Audit (IOSA). flyadeal also ranked first globally for On-Time Performance in September and introduced new routes, including Dubai World Central and Sohag in Egypt. The airline’s CEO, Steven Greenway, attributed the success to the team’s focus on operational and customer excellence, and announced plans for further expansion in 2025, including 25 new routes and 10 million passengers.
Jazeera Airways unveils ambitious growth strategy
Jazeera Airways has announced a five-year strategy aimed at nearly doubling its passenger numbers to 9.5 million by 2029. The plan involves adding more seats to its aircraft, expanding its fleet with new Airbus A320 neo and A321 neo planes, and increasing average seats per aircraft to 188. The low-cost carrier also aims to boost ancillary revenue, targeting KD6.5 per customer by 2029, and achieve a load factor of 85%. The strategy has been described as “ambitious” by analysts, who highlight the challenges of increasing ancillary revenue and maintaining competitiveness in the face of expanding rivals.
Flexjet places record $7B order for 182 Embraer aircraft
Flexjet, a private jet provider, has placed a record order for 182 aircraft from Embraer Executive Jets, with an additional 30 aircraft as potential future options, valued at up to $7 billion. The deal includes a fleet of Embraer business jets, comprising Praetor 600, Praetor 500, and Phenom 300E models, which will nearly double Flexjet’s fleet size in the next five years. This order marks the largest firm order in the history of both companies and strengthens Flexjet’s longstanding partnership with Embraer. The order also coincides with Saudi Arabia’s decision to open up opportunities for foreign operators to conduct domestic flights from May.
Riyadh Air in talks for 50 additional widebody aircraft
Riyadh Air is reportedly in talks with US and European planemakers to acquire 50 additional widebody aircraft, including the Airbus A350-1000 and Boeing 777X models. The airline is seeking to secure delivery slots, which are becoming increasingly scarce. This development comes after the airline placed orders for 60 Airbus A321neo aircraft and 39 Boeing 787s, and follows a delay in its launch date to the third quarter of 2025 due to Boeing delivery delays.
Emirates Skywards and Accor partner on rewards, offers V-Day specials
Emirates Skywards and Accor’s loyalty programme, ALL, have partnered to offer members additional benefits and opportunities to maximise their rewards. Emirates Skywards members can now convert their Skywards Miles into ALL Reward Points, unlocking access to over 5,600 Accor hotels and 5,000 Limitless Experiences. Conversely, ALL members can convert their ALL Reward Points into Skywards Miles, redeemable for flights, upgrades, and other experiences. The partnership empowers members to enjoy unparalleled lifestyle and travel experiences with both brands.
Meanwhile, the airline is offering a variety of special treats and services for Valentine’s Day, including complimentary cakes and champagne, special cocktails, and romantic movies. A variety of special discounts and promotions for inflight shopping and special offers on fragrances are also available.
12th Arab aviation summit to spotlight Saudi Arabia’s aviation ambitions
The 12th Arab Aviation Summit (AAS) will take place from 17-18 February in Riyadh, hosted by the Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA). Under the theme “Uniting Leaders, Building Tomorrow: Advancing Global Aviation”, the summit will highlight Saudi Arabia’s rapid growth as a global aviation powerhouse, driven by a $100 billion investment strategy, and its vision for transforming the aviation landscape through innovation, sustainability, andΒ collaboration. Speakers include:
- Imtiyaz Mohammad Manzary β General Manager for General Aviation, GACA
- Gabriel Semelas β President, Africa & Middle East, Airbus
- Hugo EspΓrito Santo β State Secretary of Infrastructure, Government of Portugal
- Bulut Bagci β President, World Tourism Forum Institute
- Abdul Wahab Teffaha β Secretary General, Arab Air Carriers Organisation (AACO)
- Kamil Al-Awadhi β Regional Vice President, Africa & Middle East, IATA
- Steven Greenway β CEO, flyadeal
- Majid Khan β CEO, Saudi Air Connectivity Program (ACP)
- Maryam Telmesani – Vice President of Sustainability Saudi Airlines
- Osamah Alnuaiser – Senior VP, Marketing and Corporate CommunicationsΒ – Riyadh Air
- Ziad Al Hazmi β CEO, Lufthansa Technik Middle East
- Hamdi Osman β Founder & CEO, Solitair Holding
Earlier this week…
flyadeal takes to the skies in Pakistan
Saudi Arabian airline flyadeal has commenced flight operations to Pakistan, with its inaugural flight touching down at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport on Saturday. The airline will operate two weekly flights to Karachi from Riyadh and Jeddah, and will initially offer four weekly flights to Lahore and Karachi using Airbus A320 aircraft. The launch is expected to provide additional direct travel options for passengers and create new employment opportunities, with Flyadeal becoming the third Saudi airline to operate in Pakistan. The carrier is aiming to carry at least 75,000 pilgrims on dedicated international charters for this year’s Hajj season.
Saudia launches direct flights from Chattogram to Jeddah, revises London flights for Summer 2025
Saudia is set to launch direct flights between Chattogram and Jeddah from March, initially operating three weekly flights with plans to increase frequency over time. The airline will utilise Boeing 777 and 747 aircraft on this route, expanding its presence in Bangladesh where it currently operates flights from Dhaka.
Meanwhile, the airline has revised its planned Riyadh to London service for the Northern Summer 2025 season beginning 1 April, opting to maintain three daily flights to London Heathrow (LHR) instead of introducing a third daily flight to London Gatwick (LGW) as initially planned. All three daily LHR flights will be operated by Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, with reservations available across various fare classes for the outbound flight and limited availability for the return flight.
Riyadh Air announces multi-year partnership with LIV Golf
Riyadh Air has entered into a multi-year partnership with LIV Golf, the world’s first global golf league. The agreement, announced by Riyadh Air CEO Tony Douglas and LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil, includes comprehensive sponsorship across the LIV Golf League, aligning with Riyadh Air’s values of innovation, excellence, and community engagement. The partnership will cover 14 global events in nine countries, including on-course branding, hospitality, and TV placement, starting with the season-opening event at the Riyadh Golf Club.
Muscat International Airport welcomes charter flight from Slovakia
Muscat International Airport has received its inaugural weekly charter flight from Slovakia, carrying 182 passengers, marking the beginning of a new direct connectivity between Oman and Slovakia. This service, set to continue throughout the tourist season, is part of the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism’s strategy to expand Oman’s tourism market and attract more international visitors. The charter flights sector is expected to play a significant role in supporting tourism-related industries and creating job opportunities for Omani youth. Notably, over 74,000 passengers arrived in Oman via charter flights in the 2023/2024 tourist season, generating revenues exceeding RO 23M.
QAIA celebrates exceptional year in 2024
Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA) has marked a successful year in 2024, despite regional challenges impacting traffic figures. QAIA welcomed 8.8 million passengers, handled 73,370 aircraft movements, and processed 75,450 tons of cargo. The airport expanded its network with new routes, including London Stansted and Moscow, and made significant strides in sustainability, including a 4.8 MW solar farm project. QAIA received several accolades, including the Best Airport by Size and Region: Middle East title and a 4-Star Airport Rating by SKYTRAX. The airport also strengthened its infrastructure and operations, signing agreements to build a new hangar and implement the Airport Collaborative Decision Making concept.
Hamad International Airport opens new Concourse E
Hamad International Airport (DOH) has inaugurated Concourse E, a key component of its terminal expansion programme. The new concourse increases the airport’s contact gates by 20%, enhancing the passenger experience with improved boarding efficiency, reduced reliance on remote gates, and accessibility-focused design. The expansion adds 51,000 sq m of space, featuring eight new contact gates, advanced self-boarding technology, and sustainable infrastructure, reinforcing the airport’s commitment to delivering world-class facilities.
The airport has also launched a new uniform for its customer service team, marking a significant evolution in the airport’s brand. The uniform, designed by Qatari designer Sheikha Zulfa Al Thani, reflects a modern, dynamic, and functional design inspired by the airport’s iconic logo. Over 350 customer service personnel will wear the new uniform, which aims to foster stronger connections with passengers and create a welcoming environment.
