A consortium led by UAE carrier Air Arabia has won a bid to establish and operate a new national low-cost airline, which will be based at King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
The General Authority of Civil Aviation awarded the rights to the consortium made up of Air Arabia, Nesma Group and Kun Holding.
The carrier is planning to operate 24 domestic and 57 international routes with 45 aircraft by 2030, aiming to serve around 10 million passengers annually.
Separately, Saudi Arabia launched the Dammam Airports Strategy aimed at improving and expanding airports in the region. A package of infrastructure and development initiatives, valued at more than SAR1,6bn (R7,5bn), includes 77 projects aimed at improving operational efficiency and enhancing passenger experience.