[custom_adv] New budget carrier flyadeal said Thursday it will start flying next month, as the Kingdom seeks to expand air services to boost tourism in a radical overhaul of its oil-dependent economy. Flyadeal, a subsidiary of the state-owned Saudi Arabian Airlines corporation, will operate a fleet of eight Airbus A320ceo aircraft and initially fly domestic routes before expanding in the Middle East [custom_adv] The airline said it will commence operations on the Saudi National Day on September 23, with the entire fleet expected to be delivered by mid-2018. Saudi Arabia’s ambitious “Vision 2030” plan, unveiled last year, aims to broaden its investment base and diversify the once oil-dependent economy following a sharp fall in crude prices. [custom_adv] The kingdom recently announced the launch of a massive tourism project that will turn 50 islands and a string of sites on the Red Sea coast into luxury resorts. “Saudi Arabia and the region at large, has a very young and digitally savvy population, who has an increasing thirst for low fare travel domestically and across the region,” flyadeal CEO Con Korfiatis was quoted as saying in the statement. [custom_adv] Following the international budget-airline model, the new carrier will offer low prices, but charge extra fees for food, baggage and entertainment options. The airline aims to cater to the Saudi youth (under 25, which are estimated to compose about 50 percent of the 21 million Saudi population (excluding 10 million expats). [custom_adv] By 2020, the airline plans to operate a fleet of some 50 aircraft. The airline will compete with the kingdom's other low-cost carrier Flynas, which currently flies to 17 domestic and 15 international destinations. [custom_adv] "While larger airlines are being cautious regarding fleet and route expansion, the region’s budget airlines are considering growth plans," The National reports. Other low-cost carriers in the region include Sharjah-based AirArabia and Dubai-based Fly Dubai.
