Picture credits: Flyadeal
Jeddah: Flyadeal becomes the first airline to officially join the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in 2025. The airline marked the occasion on January 29, when its management welcomed an IATA delegation, led by Kamil Al-Awadhi, regional vice president for Africa and the Middle East, at its Jeddah headquarters.
Founded in 2017, Flyadeal serves nearly 30 year-round and seasonal destinations within Saudi Arabia, as well as select international routes across the Middle East, Europe, and North Africa. The airline currently operates a fleet of 36 Airbus A320 aircraft and is planning significant expansion in the next year as part of its international growth strategy.
Flyadeal will also carry over 75,000 pilgrims on dedicated international charter flights during the upcoming Hajj season in June.
In November 2024, the airline earned IATA’s Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) certification, the highest safety accreditation in the aviation industry. The certification evaluates airlines across multiple areas, including aircraft engineering, maintenance, flight operations, ground handling, cargo, and security.
IATA supports the aviation industry by developing global standards, advocating for safe, efficient, and sustainable air travel policies, and providing essential services like training and financial systems. It collaborates with governments, industry stakeholders, and international organizations to shape aviation’s future.
Saudi Arabia is investing heavily in its aviation sector under the Vision 2030 initiative, which aims to enhance connectivity, boost private sector participation, and diversify the economy. The country has set goals like serving 330 million passengers, reaching over 250 destinations, and transporting 4.5 million tonnes of air cargo by 2030.
Flyadeal’s membership in IATA gives it access to effective working groups that address issues like safety, digital transformation, sustainability, and operational efficiency. Additionally, IATA’s Billing and Settlement Plan (BSP) will streamline its interactions with the travel industry and improve transaction efficiency for travel agencies.
Flyadeal CEO Steven Greenway highlighted the significance of the airline’s IATA membership, calling it a natural next step in its rapid growth. “Since our founding in 2017, our growth has been rapid, with operational safety as a top priority. Becoming an IATA member was a natural next step for us,” he said.
Greenway also noted Flyadeal’s position alongside its full-service counterpart, Saudia, which has been a longstanding IATA member. “As Saudia and IATA celebrate their 80th anniversaries this year, we are proud to be part of this milestone,” he added.
Kamil Al-Awadhi emphasized the importance of Flyadeal’s membership, stating that it reflects Saudi Arabia’s progress in developing a world-class aviation sector. “Saudi Arabia has made remarkable strides in developing a world-class aviation sector,” he said. “Flyadeal’s inclusion further demonstrates the Kingdom’s commitment to enhancing connectivity and fostering sustainable industry growth.”
Flyadeal will officially take part in the 81st Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) which will be held in Delhi, India from June 1–3, 2025. The event will also include the World Air Transport Summit (WATS).
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