Saudi Gazette report

DAMMAM — Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has announced that a consortium led by UAE-based Air Arabia has won the bid to launch and operate a new low-cost national airline based in the Kingdom.

The new carrier will operate both domestic and international routes out of King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, as part of the Kingdom’s aviation sector development plans under the National Transport and Logistics Strategy.

According to GACA’s statement on Sunday, the winning consortium includes Air Arabia, Kun Investment Holding, and Nesma Group.

By 2030, the new budget airline is expected to serve 81 destinations — 24 domestic and 57 international — while transporting approximately 10 million passengers annually.

The airline also aims to operate a fleet of 45 aircraft and create more than 2,400 direct jobs.

GACA said the move is designed to enhance air connectivity in the Eastern Province, increase seat capacity, and offer more competitive options for travelers. It aligns with Saudi Arabia’s ambition to make its civil aviation sector the leading one in the Middle East by 2030.