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).
Stay tuned to Aviation Today for more such updates.
![Washington, United States: A United Airlines flight bound for Guatemala City made an emergency diversion to Washington Dulles International Airport after a passenger allegedly attempted to open a cabin door at cruising altitude and assaulted another traveler, according to air traffic control communications and federal authorities. The incident involved United Airlines Flight 1551, operated by a Boeing 737 MAX 8, which departed from Newark Liberty International Airport on Thursday evening carrying 145 passengers and six crew members. The aircraft had been en route to Guatemala City when the crew declared an emergency and diverted to Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia. According to audio between the flight crew and air traffic controllers, the pilot informed controllers that the disruptive passenger attempted to open Door 2L while the aircraft was cruising at approximately 36,000 feet. The pilot also reported that the passenger later assaulted another individual onboard. During the exchange, the tower asked the crew which door the passenger had attempted to access. The pilot responded: “Door 2L at 36,000 feet and then [the passenger] assaulted a fellow passenger.” When controllers asked whether there were any injuries onboard, the pilot replied: “Not to our knowledge.” The aircraft landed safely at Washington Dulles at approximately 8:38 p.m. local time. Law enforcement and emergency personnel met the aircraft upon arrival. The FBI later confirmed that agents responded to the incident at the airport, although the agency did not immediately release additional details regarding the passenger’s identity, possible charges, or whether the individual was taken into federal custody. Flight tracking data showed the aircraft remained airborne for a period before diverting toward the Washington region instead of continuing south toward Guatemala. The diversion temporarily disrupted the scheduled international service but no injuries among passengers or crew were officially reported. United Airlines had not issued a detailed public statement at the time of publication regarding the circumstances surrounding the diversion or the status of the passenger involved. Federal authorities are expected to review crew reports, passenger statements, and onboard evidence as part of the investigation.](https://aviationtoday.in/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/AVIATION-TODAY-UNITEDV-AIRLINES-RUDE-PASSENGER-768x432.jpg)
![Washington, United States: A United Airlines flight bound for Guatemala City made an emergency diversion to Washington Dulles International Airport after a passenger allegedly attempted to open a cabin door at cruising altitude and assaulted another traveler, according to air traffic control communications and federal authorities. The incident involved United Airlines Flight 1551, operated by a Boeing 737 MAX 8, which departed from Newark Liberty International Airport on Thursday evening carrying 145 passengers and six crew members. The aircraft had been en route to Guatemala City when the crew declared an emergency and diverted to Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia. According to audio between the flight crew and air traffic controllers, the pilot informed controllers that the disruptive passenger attempted to open Door 2L while the aircraft was cruising at approximately 36,000 feet. The pilot also reported that the passenger later assaulted another individual onboard. During the exchange, the tower asked the crew which door the passenger had attempted to access. The pilot responded: “Door 2L at 36,000 feet and then [the passenger] assaulted a fellow passenger.” When controllers asked whether there were any injuries onboard, the pilot replied: “Not to our knowledge.” The aircraft landed safely at Washington Dulles at approximately 8:38 p.m. local time. Law enforcement and emergency personnel met the aircraft upon arrival. The FBI later confirmed that agents responded to the incident at the airport, although the agency did not immediately release additional details regarding the passenger’s identity, possible charges, or whether the individual was taken into federal custody. Flight tracking data showed the aircraft remained airborne for a period before diverting toward the Washington region instead of continuing south toward Guatemala. The diversion temporarily disrupted the scheduled international service but no injuries among passengers or crew were officially reported. United Airlines had not issued a detailed public statement at the time of publication regarding the circumstances surrounding the diversion or the status of the passenger involved. Federal authorities are expected to review crew reports, passenger statements, and onboard evidence as part of the investigation.](https://aviationtoday.in/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/AVIATION-TODAY-UNITEDV-AIRLINES-RUDE-PASSENGER-300x169.jpg)
