New Saudi low-cost airline to operate 45 aircraft by 2030
A consortium led by Air Arabia will operate a new national low-cost carrier from Dammam, as King Fahd Airport unveils its new masterplan and 77 infrastructure projects.
A consortium formed by Air Arabia, Nesma Group, and KUN Holding has been awarded the contract by the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) to establish and operate a new national low-cost airline based at King Fahd International Airport in Dammam.
The carrier, designed to enhance domestic and international air connectivity in the Eastern Province, aims to serve 10 million passengers annually by 2030. It will operate 45 aircraft, covering 24 domestic and 57 international destinations, and is expected to create over 2,400 direct jobs in the aviation sector.
“We are proud to have been selected by GACA to launch this new national airline,” said Adel Al Ali, Group CEO of Air Arabia. “This milestone reflects our commitment to support the Kingdom’s aviation growth.”
Established in 2003, Air Arabia was the first low-cost carrier in the Middle East. It is headquartered at Sharjah International Airport and operates a fleet of 83 Airbus A320 family aircraft, with 120 more on order, serving a network of around 100 destinations.
Faisal Bin Saleh Al-Turki, President of Nesma Group, and Mohamed Bin Nabil Hefni, CEO of KUN Holding, emphasized that the initiative “goes beyond air transport and is a direct contribution to tourism and local economic development in the Eastern Province.”
The announcement coincided with the unveiling of a new identity and masterplan for King Fahd International Airport, along with strategic plans for Al-Ahsa and Al-Qaisumah airports. The event, led by Eastern Region Governor Prince Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz, also marked the launch of the Dammam Airports Strategy.
According to the authority, more than SAR 1.6 billion will be invested in 77 infrastructure projects aimed at boosting operational efficiency and enhancing the passenger experience. Goals include handling 32 million passengers annually and achieving 77 aircraft movements per hour by 2030. Air cargo capacity is also expected to grow to 600,000 tons per year, a 1,000% increase from 2022.
By the end of 2024, the airport had recorded a 35% increase in passenger traffic compared to 2022. The event also included the inauguration of new electronic gates for passenger processing.
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