The Air Arabia-led consortium operated its first flights from King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, on Sunday, 20 September, as part of its new operations, which include two daily direct flights each to Riyadh and Jeddah and one daily direct flight to Madinah.
A ceremony was held at King Fahd International Airport before the inaugural flight took off, attended by officials, partners and media representatives, and a welcome ceremony was held when the flight arrived at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, according to a post on the Air Arabia website.
Adel Al Ali, Group CEO of Air Arabia, said starting flights from King Fahd International Airport is part of the group's plans to support the growth of the aviation sector in the Kingdom and strengthen air connectivity from the Eastern Province. He added that operations start with three domestic destinations, with the network and services set to expand gradually in the coming phase.
For his part, Mohammed bin Ali Al-Hassani, CEO of Dammam Airports, said the start of the consortium's operations from King Fahd International Airport helps strengthen air connectivity for the Eastern Province and expand travel options for passengers.
Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation announced in July 2025 that the Air Arabia consortium had won the tender. The consortium is made up of Air Arabia Group, Nesma Group and Kun Holding.
The consortium obtained its Air Operator Certificate (AOC) from the General Authority of Civil Aviation before starting operations, after meeting regulatory requirements and safety, security and operational quality standards. The airline operates Airbus A320 aircraft with 174 seats in a single class.
To view the post on the Air Arabia website, click here.
