flynas CEO sees summer travel demand rising on improved conditions

Saudi-listed low-cost carrier flynas expects travel demand to climb this summer as regional conditions improve, Chief Executive Bander Almohanna told Argaam.

The airline is preparing to boost seat capacity on key routes and launch new seasonal destinations, he said. Almohanna cited improving regional conditions and stable air traffic as supporting factors. He also pointed to strong seasonal demand for travel and tourism across domestic and international markets.

flynas competes with flyadeal and Saudi Arabian Airlines in a market that has grown rapidly as the kingdom opens to tourism. Saudi Arabia recorded 100 million visits in 2023, ahead of its own target, and has set a goal of 150 million annual visits by 2030. The government has invested billions in new airports and expanded capacity at hubs in Jeddah, Riyadh, and Dammam. The aviation sector is a centerpiece of the Vision 2030 economic diversification plan.

Regional air traffic had been disrupted by conflicts in the Middle East in recent years. Almohanna said the operating environment has improved, with cease-fire agreements and diplomatic steps easing tensions. The stabilization of air traffic gives flynas confidence to add capacity for the summer peak.

The airline operates a fleet of more than 40 Airbus narrowbody aircraft and serves over 70 destinations across the Middle East, Asia, and Europe. It was founded in 2007 and has grown into one of the region's largest low-cost carriers. For the summer, flynas is betting on leisure tourists and expatriates returning home. Seat capacity on certain routes will increase, and new seasonal destinations will be added to the schedule.

The summer season is critical for flynas, representing a large portion of annual revenue. The company reported a load factor of 81% in the first quarter of 2025, up from 79% a year earlier. If summer demand materializes as the CEO expects, load factors could push above those levels. The airline's low-cost model allows it to add capacity quickly without substantial cost increases, giving it flexibility to capture price-sensitive travelers.

Other Gulf carriers have reported stronger summer bookings. Emirates said in April it expected to carry more than 6 million passengers between June and September. Qatar Airways also expanded its summer schedule. The broader recovery in Middle East air travel, driven by pent-up demand and eased visa restrictions across the region, supports Almohanna's outlook.

flynas plans to announce specific route additions closer to the summer peak. Almohanna did not disclose financial targets for the period in the interview. The company's next quarterly results will show whether the demand surge translates into improved profitability.