Saudi Arabia is expanding its aviation sector significantly under its Vision 2030 initiative, aiming to reach 150 million annual visitors by 2030. The kingdom plans to launch three additional airlines in the coming years, supplementing the existing carriers which are experiencing rapid growth with extensive aircraft orders.
Fahd Hamidaddinis, the CEO of Saudi Arabia’s Tourism Authority, announced that with the addition of these new airlines, the country will have seven active carriers and a fleet approaching 1,000 aircraft. This expansion includes a new low-cost airline based in Dammam, led by a consortium including Air Arabia, and a carrier focused on religious tourism centered in Medina. The goal is to facilitate travel for the millions of pilgrims and tourists visiting the kingdom.
Currently, airlines such as Saudia, Flynas, Flyadeal, and Riyadh Air are driving growth, with over 460 aircraft on order, including models from Airbus and Boeing. Riyadh Air’s fleet plans involve Boeing 787-9, Airbus A321neos, and A350-1000 aircraft, supporting its expanding network and passenger capacity.
