• "Al-Saqr": An aircraft named after the national bird of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - Flyadeal, the fastest growing low-cost carrier in Saudi Arabia, announced the delivery of its first new aircraft for 2026 , an Airbus A320neo , bringing its total fleet to 45 single-aisle passenger aircraft.

The aircraft arrived in Jeddah directly from the Airbus assembly line in Toulouse, France, becoming the 34th A320neo aircraft in Flyadeal’s fleet, in addition to 11 other A320neo aircraft.

This delivery also marks a new step in the airline's aircraft naming approach, as flyadeal moves from the tradition of naming aircraft after constellations to adopting the names of birds. The new aircraft has been named "Al Saqr" (The Falcon), the national bird of Saudi Arabia, making it the first aircraft to adopt this new approach. The falcon embodies strength, courage, freedom, and pride—symbols deeply rooted in Saudi culture and reflecting the values cherished by flyadeal.

Stephen Greenway, CEO of flyadeal, said: “Celebrating a first milestone always feels special, and our new aircraft represents another step in flyadeal’s journey towards reaching a fleet of fifty aircraft, which is an important achievement for us as a relatively new carrier. With the delivery of additional aircraft to the flyadeal fleet, we will be able to increase the number of flights on existing routes and launch new routes, ensuring the continuation of our growth momentum.”

Captain Abdulaziz Bahri, Chief Operating Officer of flyadeal, added: “As an airline that exclusively operates A320 aircraft, flyadeal demonstrates its confidence in this model, which meets our operational requirements locally, regionally, and internationally, thanks to its fuel efficiency and low operating costs, supporting our core operational priorities. Just six months ago, we took delivery of our 40th aircraft, and today our fleet has grown to 45. We are also looking to attract more pilots, including those who have joined us through the government-supported Graduate Pilot Training Program, which we began participating in last year.”

For her part, Hazar Hafez, Head of Marketing and Customer Experience at flyadeal, said: “Saudi Arabia is home to more than 500 species of birds and lies on one of the world’s most important migration routes, with millions of birds crossing the Kingdom’s skies annually. Birds, by their very nature, represent movement, travel, and freedom, values that align closely with the core of our brand. Through this connection to an authentic narrative, flyadeal fosters a deeper and more meaningful relationship with its customers.”

Flyadeal's A320 aircraft feature a spacious cabin with 186 seats , all in Economy Class in a 3-3 configuration, and an interior design that meets the highest standards for low-cost carriers. These features include custom-made leather seats with a diamond pattern and a prominent logo, along with generous overhead compartments that provide ample luggage storage.

Flyadeal has rapidly established itself as the fastest-growing airline in the Middle East, operating its modern fleet from its hubs in Jeddah, Riyadh, Madinah, and Dammam to over 30 seasonal and year-round destinations within Saudi Arabia, as well as destinations across the Middle East, Europe, North Africa, and South Asia. By 2030 , in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 , Flyadeal aims to more than double its network to over 100 destinations and increase its fleet size to 100 aircraft.

About Flyadeal

On September 23 , 2017 , Saudi National Day, flyadeal commenced operations with its historic inaugural flight from Jeddah to Riyadh. A pioneering and innovative company, flyadeal was the first regional low-cost carrier to launch exclusively through digital distribution channels. Established as the sister airline of Saudia, the national carrier – both being wholly owned by Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia Group) – flyadeal caters to price-conscious and tech-savvy customers in a market where 80 % of the Saudi population is under 40 and owns at least two mobile phones.

Flyadeal aims to stimulate the travel, tourism, and trade sectors through its affordable daily fares, offering value for money and catering to the needs of leisure, religious, family, and business travelers. Simplicity is the hallmark of the Economy Class cabins on Flyadeal's narrow-body aircraft fleet. As the Kingdom undergoes a radical transformation through its Vision 2030 economic diversification journey, the aviation and tourism sectors are among the many designated to foster dynamic growth. Flyadeal is one of the newest and fastest-growing low-cost carriers in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East, consistently delivering on-time service that exceeds the global industry average.

Since launching its first flights in 2017 , flyadeal has carried more than 45 million passengers. In a remarkable achievement in 2025 , flyadeal surpassed 10 million passengers in a single calendar year for the first time.

In May 2024 , flyadeal concluded its largest aircraft purchase deal in its history, comprising 51 aircraft – 12 A320neos and 39 larger A321neos – with a delivery schedule starting in 2027. In addition, flyadeal will operate long-haul scheduled services from 2027 with the phased introduction of ten ( 10 ) wide-body Airbus A330neo aircraft ordered by the Saudi Group in April 2025 .

Therefore, by 2030 , flyadeal plans to operate hundreds of routes, more than double its fleet size, and more than triple its network, reaching over 100 aircraft and destinations respectively. This ambitious expansion strategy positions flyadeal as a rapidly growing airline and one of the most desirable companies to work for in the country.

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