TravTalk Middle East Online Magazine
The Low-Cost Carrier (LCC) concept is still in its infancy in Saudi Arabia and Middle East compared to Europe, North America and Asia. However, flyadeal, one of the most modern LCCs ideal for short-haul travel with their seamless booking experience, has slowly but steadily ventured into the LCC market effectively. In an interview with TRAVTALK, Steven Greenway, CEO, flyadeal, shares their future plans.
Dr Shehara Rizly
Tell us about flyadeal, aircraft used, number of routes etc…
flyadeal is Saudi Arabia’s only home-grown low-cost airline operating since 23 September 2017 when we launched our first scheduled flight from Jeddah to Riyadh on the country’s National Day. We are a subsidiary of Saudia Group, which owns and operates full-service airline Saudia.
As a pioneer and innovator, flyadeal’s mandate has always been to shape air travel in a high demand domestic and rapidly growing international market out of Saudi Arabia. Given the Kingdom’s young population – 80 per cent being under 40 years – a domestic consumer that is tech savvy with at least two mobile devices, we established ourselves as the Middle East’s first regional low-cost airline to launch only across digital distribution channels. To remain low-cost, simplicity is key. Hence, we operate a growing fleet of single-class all-Economy Airbus A320s, each with a capacity of 186 seats in a 3 – 3 configuration. Our strength is the domestic market serving 18 towns and cities through three primary hubs of Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam, and an international network of over 11 year-round and summer seasonal destinations in the Middle East, North Africa and Europe. Earlier this year, we recorded a cumulative total of having flown over 25 million passengers since Day 1.
What is the main focus of the airline?
To become the airline of choice offering everyday low fares and providing consumers with the convenience to choose a variety of competitive fare packages that suit their travel requirements. To continue using innovative technology that drives cost-effective sales and consumer engagement with our new age digital mobile booking app that is central to our e-commerce enhancements. We have already set ourselves a target for 2024 to achieve 99 per cent of all transactions. Most importantly, flyadeal aims to drive repeat business with a growing customer base and a focus on delivering service excellence.
Who prefer to travel in the LCCs?
The LCC concept is still in its infancy in Saudi Arabia and Middle East compared with Europe, North America and Asia where the business model has flourished for over two decades. Given the projected travel numbers for Saudi Arabia – 150 million domestic and international tourists by 2030, up from the current 100 million – and the national focus on economic reforms, building a national aviation ecosystem and huge investment in mega tourism projects in the Kingdom, the appetite for travel across all segments is strong.
