The Saudi flag carrier SAUDIA is scheduled to launch its new affiliate low-cost airline Flyadeal, based at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, on 23rd of September to coincide with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's national day anniversary, it was reported here today. In a special launching event, the Director General of SAUDIA Eng. Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, who is also chairman of the board of Flyadeal, said the airline will launch operations in Saudi Arabia's national day with flights to domestic destinations. He said the venture is part of SAUDIA Group's SV2020 Transformation Strategy, which aims to elevate the group's units into world-class organizations by 2020. Flyadeal will cater to domestic travelers, Hajj and Umrah pilgrims, and the rising number of tourists to Saudi Arabia, among other groups. Flyadeal will initially operate flights to major domestic destinations, including Riyadh and Dammam, before expanding to regional markets. The first of Flyadeal fleet, an Airbus A320-200, was received in Jeddah today, it was reported. The event was attended by the President of Civil Aviation authority Abdulhakeem bin Mohammed Al-Tamimi, more than 300 civil aviation personnel and SAUDIA and businessmen and media representatives.
