Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – June 1st, 2024:

flynas, the Saudi air carrier and the leading low-cost airline in the Middle East and the world, launched its first direct flight between Dammam and Al Najaf in Iraq today, June 1st, to be the first Saudi carrier to connect the two cities, after the Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) approved national carriers to operate flights to and from Al Najaf, adding a new direct route between the two countries, in line with the National Civil Aviation Strategy, which aims to double the capacity to accommodate 330 million passengers annually and connect KSA with more than 250 International destinations, and within the framework of the close relations between the two brotherly countries.

An inaugural ceremony was held at King Fahd International Airport (KFIA) in Dammam, attended by HE Iraq ambassador to Saudi Arabia and representatives from flynas, the Saudi-Iraqi Coordination Council, GACA, and KFIA, to celebrate the maiden flight on the Dammam—Al Najaf route. Meanwhile, the flight was received with a welcoming ceremony at Al Najaf International Airport, attended by the HE Saudi ambassador to Iraq and representatives from flynas. Three weekly flights will operate between Dammam and Najaf in central Iraq.

This step reflects flynas commitment to expanding its network of domestic and international destinations within its strategic plan, launched under the title “We Connect the World to the Kingdom,” and in parallel with the National Civil Aviation Strategy, to connect KSA with 250 International destinations, accommodate 330 million passengers, and host 100 million tourists yearly by 2030, and the objectives of the Pilgrims Experience Program (PEP) to facilitate access to the Two Holy Mosques.

flynas was the first Saudi carrier to resume flights between the Kingdom and Iraq in 2017 after a 27-year hiatus, underpinning commitment towards its guests while providing them with more travel experiences and value-added offerings across flynas ever-expanding network of international routes and destinations.

flynas connects more than 70 domestic and international destinations with more than 1500 weekly flights and has flown more than 78 million passengers since its launch in 2007, with the aim to reach 165 domestic and international destinations, in line with the objectives of the Saudi Vision 2030.