Mubasher: A consortium comprising Air Arabia, Nesma Group, and KUN Holding won the general authority of civil aviation’s (GACA) competition to establish and operate a new national low-cost airline at King Fahd International Airport in Dammam.

The new carrier will enhance domestic and international air connectivity for the Eastern Province, according to a press release.

In line with the Aviation program goals, the three parties will join forces to deliver an efficient operating model that improves service quality for travelers and contributes to driving national economic growth.

Adel Al Ali, Group CEO of Air Arabia, stated: “Through our proven economic model and regional expertise, this new partnership will deliver a reliable and value-driven travel experience for passengers and will contribute to economic growth and job creation in the Eastern Province and beyond.”

Faisal bin Saleh Al-Turki, President of Nesma Group, and Mohamed bin Nabil Hefni, CEO of KUN Holding, commented: “This initiative aligns with the impressive developments in the Kingdom’s tourism and aviation sectors.”

“Launching a new low-cost carrier from Dammam is not merely an air transport project, but a direct contribution to strengthening the tourism infrastructure and stimulating the local economy of the Eastern Province. This includes creating high-quality jobs, empowering national talent, and supporting aviation-related commercial activities,” they added.

The new national low-cost carrier is targeting to operate 24 domestic and 57 international destinations with 45 aircraft by 2030 in line with the Saudi Vision.

It seeks to serve around 10 million passengers annually from Dammam and the Eastern Province.

Meanwhile, the joint project is expected to secure more than 2,400 direct jobs in the aviation sector, contributing to tourism growth and local economic development in the region.

In June, Air Arabia and Saudia both expanded their operations in Russia to enhance global connectivity.