Saudi Arabian low-cost carrier flyadeal has expanded its presence in India by launching a new non-stop service between Mumbai and Riyadh. The airline, part of the Saudia Group, began operating the route on October 3, 2026, making Mumbai its second destination in India after Hyderabad.
The new Mumbai-Riyadh service operates five times a week and adds more than 7,400 seats every month between the two cities. flyadeal is operating the route with its Airbus A320neo aircraft, giving travellers another low-cost option between India and Saudi Arabia.
The launch comes just three months after flyadeal entered the Indian market. The airline started flying to Hyderabad on July 3, 2026, and is now using Mumbai to deepen its presence in what it describes as one of its key international markets.
flyadeal adds Mumbai to its India network
The Mumbai-Riyadh service is designed to work not just as a point-to-point connection between the two cities, but also as a gateway into flyadeal’s domestic network in Saudi Arabia.
The airline says the schedule has been designed to provide a mid-morning arrival in Riyadh for passengers travelling from Mumbai, while the return service arrives in Mumbai in the morning. Passengers can also book onward connections to destinations including Abha, Dammam, Jeddah and Madinah on a single booking, with through fares and baggage checked through to the final destination.
The schedule currently has the Riyadh-Mumbai flight departing Riyadh at 00:55 and arriving in Mumbai at 07:40 am. The Mumbai-Riyadh service departs Mumbai at 08:40 and reaches Riyadh at 10:15.
The service operates daily except Mondays and Fridays.
flyadeal is also continuing to operate its Hyderabad services. The Riyadh-Hyderabad flight operates daily except Sundays and Tuesdays, while the Hyderabad-Riyadh service operates daily except Mondays and Wednesdays.
An all-Economy A320neo operation
flyadeal is keeping things simple on the new route, with its A320neo configured entirely in Economy Class. The aircraft has 186 seats and is equipped with both USB-A and USB-C charging ports.
The aircraft also features Airbus’ Airspace cabin interior, including larger overhead bins, alongside cabin lighting and design intended to improve the overall passenger experience. For a low-cost carrier, the combination of a relatively dense 186-seat configuration and the A320neo’s efficiency should allow flyadeal to keep its cost base competitive while offering a new option to travellers between India and Saudi Arabia.
Mumbai is only the beginning
flyadeal’s Mumbai launch is part of a much larger international expansion plan. Sanjiv Kapoor, acting Chief Executive Officer of flyadeal and Executive Vice President, Strategies at Saudia Group, said India is a strategic priority for the airline, citing growth in travel and tourism flows between India and Saudi Arabia. He also noted that Saudi Arabia is now among India’s three largest international travel markets.
Mumbai is particularly important given the size of the local market and the significant amount of business, leisure, family and religious travel between India and Saudi Arabia.
flyadeal also highlights the connectivity available at its Saudi hubs. At Jeddah, the airline operates from Terminal 1, which has direct high-speed rail access to Makkah and Madinah. At Riyadh, flyadeal operates from Terminal 4, allowing passengers to connect onwards to its domestic network. That connectivity could be particularly useful for Indian travellers heading beyond Riyadh itself, including passengers travelling for Umrah and other religious journeys.
flyadeal is growing rapidly
flyadeal was launched in 2017 as the low-cost airline of the Saudia Group and has grown rapidly over the past few years. The airline currently operates a fleet of 47 Airbus A320-family aircraft from bases in Riyadh, Jeddah, Madinah and Dammam, serving more than 40 seasonal and year-round destinations across Saudi Arabia, the Middle East, Europe, North Africa and South Asia.
The airline is targeting another major jump in size by the end of the decade. In line with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 programme, flyadeal expects to more than double its network and fleet by 2030, reaching more than 100 destinations and more than 100 aircraft.
That expansion will also see flyadeal move beyond the A320 family. The airline has orders for A321neos, with deliveries beginning in 2027, while it is also preparing to enter the long-haul market with Airbus A330-900neo aircraft.
In May 2024, flyadeal ordered 51 narrowbody aircraft, including 12 A320neos and 39 A321neos. The airline is also set to receive A330neos as part of the 10-aircraft widebody order Saudia Group placed in 2025.
India becomes an increasingly important market
The Mumbai launch is therefore more than simply another international route for flyadeal. It indicates where the airline sees future growth coming from. India and Saudi Arabia already have strong links through business, family, tourism and religious travel, while Saudi Arabia is investing heavily in expanding its tourism infrastructure and international connectivity under Vision 2030.
For Indian travellers, the arrival of another Saudi low-cost carrier also means more competition in a market traditionally dominated by full-service airlines and other established regional operators. With Hyderabad already on the network and Mumbai now added, the question is how quickly flyadeal will expand to other Indian cities. The airline says it remains committed to strengthening its presence in India, and its broader fleet expansion gives it the aircraft required to do so.
Bottomline
flyadeal’s arrival in Mumbai adds another low-cost player to the India-Saudi Arabia market at a time when travel between the two countries continues to grow. With 186-seat A320neos, five weekly flights and onward connectivity across Saudi Arabia, the airline is clearly positioning Mumbai as more than just another point on its international network.
And given flyadeal’s plans to more than double its fleet and network by 2030, Mumbai and Hyderabad may well be the start of a much larger India expansion.
Have you flown with flyadeal? How has your experience been?
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