Saudi carrier, flynas, has increased its passengers count by 91 per cent to 8.7 million in 2022.
Last year, the low-cost airline also increased the number of flights it operated by 45 per cent year-on-year to 66,000 and seat capacity by 46 per cent.
The airline also launched 16 new destinations and 30 new routes as the fleet upscaled to 43 aircraft.
“The growth rates recorded by flynas during 2022 in performance, operations, and localisation programmes reflect the company’s commitment to continuing [its] expansion,” said CEO and managing director of flynas, Bander Almohanna.
“The annual results confirm the progress in the company’s strategic plan with the receiving of eight new Airbus A320neo and two Airbus A330 aircraft, which will contribute to serve pilgrims and Umrah performers as well as expanding to new markets.
“Moreover, the company’s Board of Directors approved raising the booking orders of 250 aircraft, in line with the goals of the Saudi vision 2030, and the civil aviation strategy to reach 330 million passengers, 250 international destinations, and 100 million tourists annually,” he added.
As part of its efforts to provide Saudi nationals with job opportunities, flynas launched the Future Engineers programme in 2022 to localise the aircraft engineering and maintenance jobs, and to graduate and employ 150 engineers over the coming years.
The programme started with 30 Saudi engineers, while 100 Saudi first officer cadet pilots were accepted in its Future Pilots training programme.
In November last year, the PIF-backed AviLease successfully delivered the first two of its 12 Airbus A320neos on lease to flynas. Flynas is expected to receive the remaining aircraft by the end of 2023.
The Saudi carrier operates more than 1,500 weekly flights to 70 domestic and international destinations.