Flynas Expands Abha Operations Base To Link Five Saudi Hubs And Boost Tourism

flynas has confirmed that Abha International Airport will become a new operations base, created with Cluster2 company and the Aseer Development Authority. The move adds Abha to existing hubs in Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Madinah, making flynas the first Saudi airline to manage scheduled services from five different airports inside the Kingdom.

The first stage of services from the new Abha operations base is scheduled to start on 29 March. During this initial phase, flynas will introduce direct routes to 11 destinations, covering both domestic points within Saudi Arabia and international cities. The company plans a gradual increase in links from Abha after the launch.

From Abha, the international schedule will feature six year-round services to Dubai, Cairo, Istanbul and Addis Ababa, alongside seasonal flights to Kuwait and Trabzon. These additions will sit next to existing domestic routes from Abha to Riyadh, Dammam, Jeddah, Madinah and Tabuk, creating a wider network from the Aseer Region’s main airport.

flynas has stated that the number of destinations connected to the Abha hub will be expanded in stages. The airline aims to eventually double the destinations served from the new base. This planned growth is intended to deepen Abha’s role within the national route structure and increase travel options for passengers in southern Saudi Arabia.

Commenting on the decision, flynas chief executive and managing director Bander Almohanna said: "The launch of our new operations base in Abha represents a strategic investment designed to build an integrated national operating network." Almohanna linked the project to long-term development and aviation policies for Saudi Arabia.

Almohanna added that the Abha hub is meant to influence the regional economy as well as air traffic. "Beyond operational growth, the hub aims to stimulate economic and tourism development in the Aseer Region, supporting the goal of transforming it into a year-round global tourist destination. This initiative directly aligns with the National Civil Aviation Strategy and the overarching objectives of Saudi Vision 2030."

flynas Abha operations base within the wider flynas network

flynas, which describes itself as a low-cost carrier and is the first airline listed on the Saudi Exchange (Tadawul), currently operates 156 routes. These routes link more than 80 domestic and international destinations in 38 countries, with more than 2,000 weekly flights. Since 2007, flynas has carried more than 80 million passengers on its network.

The airline aims to increase its total network to 165 domestic and international destinations as part of its growth and expansion strategy. This target is aligned with the aviation sector goals set under Saudi Vision 2030. The new Abha operations base is one element in this wider plan, which focuses on expanding connectivity across and beyond the Kingdom.

The establishment of the Abha operations base strengthens the role of flynas within Saudi Arabia’s aviation plans, while supporting tourism and economic objectives for the Aseer Region. With phased growth of destinations and integration into a wider network strategy, the hub is expected to remain a key part of the airline’s Vision 2030 targets.

With inputs from SPA