Air Arabia-led Saudi carrier launches Dammam flights to three domestic cities

Saudi Arabia’s new budget airline, spearheaded by an Air Arabia consortium, has commenced operations from King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, launching with domestic flights to Riyadh, Jeddah, and Medinah. On September 20, the carrier made its inaugural flight from Dammam to Riyadh, marking the beginning of its operations from the Eastern Province's new base.

Currently, the airline offers two daily flights between Dammam and Riyadh, alongside one daily service to Jeddah, and another daily service to Medinah, providing Eastern Province residents with a cost-effective alternative for travel between Dammam and three of Saudi Arabia’s key domestic destinations.

Adel Al Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer of Air Arabia, emphasized that this move represents a significant milestone as the new national budget carrier takes to the skies for the first time from King Fahd International Airport. The launch underscores the airline’s dedication to bolstering the Kingdom’s aviation sector while enhancing affordable and dependable air connectivity from the Eastern Province.

Dammam has been designated as the airline’s operating base, selected following a competition in July 2025 by the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA). The consortium, comprising Air Arabia Group, Nesma Group, and Kun Holding, received its Air Operator Certificate from GACA last week after successfully meeting the necessary technical and regulatory requirements, thereby enabling the airline to commence operations from Dammam.

Operating under Air Arabia’s low-cost model, the carrier utilizes Airbus A320 aircraft, accommodating 174 passengers in a single-class cabin. The airline’s entry into the domestic aviation market in Saudi Arabia and the selection of Dammam as its base point signify a new chapter in the region’s air travel landscape, reinforcing Dammam’s role as a crucial hub for the carrier’s network.