flyadeal Begins New Flights from Riyadh to the Fastest Growing Economy in the World

Saudi Arabia’s low-cost carrier flyadeal (F3) has officially entered the Indian aviation market, launching daily scheduled flights between Riyadh and Hyderabad. The inaugural flight touched down at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (HYD) on July 4, 2026, marking the airline’s first-ever regular scheduled service to India and a significant milestone in its international expansion strategy under the Saudia Group umbrella.

The launch was marked with an official welcome ceremony at Hyderabad Airport, attended by senior leadership from both GMR Hyderabad International Airport Limited (GHIAL) and flyadeal, according to Siasat.com.

Flight Schedule and Aircraft Details

According to Gulf News, flyadeal operates the Riyadh–Hyderabad–Riyadh route daily, using an Airbus A320neo configured in an all-Economy layout with 186 seats. The aircraft features USB-A and USB-C charging ports at every seat, Airbus’ “Airspace” cabin interior, and extra-large overhead storage bins.

According to schedule details reported by Connecting Travel, the route operates as follows:

Each journey takes approximately five to six hours. Tickets are available through flyadeal’s website, mobile app, and travel agency network.

Executive Reactions to the Launch

Sanjiv Kapoor, flyadeal’s Acting Chief Executive Officer and Executive Vice President of Strategy at Saudia Group, called India a long-awaited addition to the airline’s network of international destinations and described it as central to the group’s long-term growth strategy. He confirmed Hyderabad is the first step in a broader India push, with a second Indian destination expected to be announced soon.

At the Hyderabad ceremony, flyadeal’s Acting Chief Commercial Officer, Loyd Misquitta, said the new service reflects rising demand for travel between India and Saudi Arabia and will strengthen commercial, tourism, and cultural ties while giving passengers more choice at competitive fares, per Siasat.com.

Kadhir Kadhiravan, CEO of GMR Hyderabad International Airport Limited, welcomed flyadeal’s India debut, noting the Riyadh connection strengthens the airport’s Middle East network and reflects Hyderabad’s growing role as a global aviation hub, supporting both the Indian diaspora and new trade and tourism opportunities.

Why Hyderabad? A Strategic First Stop in India

Hyderabad, the capital of the Indian state of Telangana, was selected as flyadeal’s inaugural Indian gateway for several overlapping reasons:

• Technology and business hub: The city hosts major campuses for global firms including Amazon, Google, and Microsoft, and has developed into one of India’s leading centers for IT, aerospace, defense, and startups.
• Strong Gulf ties: Hyderabad has deep cultural, religious, and expatriate links with the Gulf region, particularly Saudi Arabia and the UAE, driven by a large resident diaspora.
• Existing charter relationship: flyadeal had previously operated only seasonal Hajj and Umrah charter flights between India and Saudi Arabia; this marks its transition to a genuine scheduled passenger route.
• Onward connectivity: Passengers from Hyderabad gain seamless access to flyadeal’s Saudi domestic network via Riyadh, opening links to multiple cities across the Kingdom.

India becomes flyadeal’s second South Asian market after Pakistan, where the carrier launched flights via Lahore in late 2025.

Hyderabad Airport’s Growing International Footprint

Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) has emerged as one of India’s fastest-growing aviation gateways. Per GHIAL’s own company profile, the airport now handles over 29 million passengers and roughly 165,000 tonnes of cargo annually, serving 26 international destinations through 23 international and 3 Indian carriers, alongside 8 domestic airlines flying to around 74 domestic points.

Separately, Business Standard reported that passenger traffic at Hyderabad grew from 18.3 million in FY18 to 29.5 million in FY25 — a compound annual growth rate of roughly 7.1% — pushing the airport close to its current design capacity and prompting GHIAL to propose a ₹14,000 crore terminal and runway expansion plan to lift capacity toward 47 million passengers annually.

Hyderabad Airport has also picked up global recognition, including the ACI World Airport Service Quality “Best Airport – Asia-Pacific” award for 2025.

The addition of flyadeal reinforces this international expansion and adds a new low-cost option on the India–Saudi corridor, alongside existing full-service carriers.

All in All

The Hyderabad launch fits into a wider pattern of Gulf carriers deepening ties with India, one of the world’s fastest-growing major economies and a key source market for outbound tourism, business travel, and religious pilgrimage traffic to Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia’s aviation sector overall recorded more than 128 million passengers in 2024 (up 15% year-on-year) and over 905,000 flights, with international connectivity expanding to more than 170 destinations worldwide.

flyadeal has indicated that a second Indian city will be announced soon, suggesting Hyderabad is the opening move in a broader India strategy rather than a standalone route.