Saudi Arabian Airlines was the only airline in the country when budget carriers Nas Air and Sama Airlines got their licenses from the government.[9]Nas Air was founded in 2007.[10] Operations started in 25 February that year.[9] In late 2007, Nas Air firmed up an order for the acquisition of 20 aircraft of the Airbus A320 family.[11]
The company changed its name from Nas Air to Flynas in November 2013.[12][13]
In January 2017, Flynas signed an agreement to order 80 Airbus A320neo family with deliveries scheduled from 2018 to 2026.[14] In November 2018, Flynas took delivery of the first Airbus A320neo family aircraft.[14] In June 2023, Flynas ordered 30 Airbus A320neos, taking the airline's total order with Airbus to 120 A320neo aircraft, including 10 A321XLRs.[15] In July 2017, the flynas application on smart devices, iPhone and Android, achieved one million downloads of the application by users.[16]
As of September 2023[update], Flynas served 54 destinations across 99 routes; the airline has Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, and Medinah as operating bases.[17]
Assiut and Sharm el Sheikh in Egypt initial service by the carrier began in 2009, with flights to the latter initially operated on a seasonal basis.[18] In 2011, the airline started services to three cities in Turkey: Adana, Antakya and Istanbul.[19] Also that year, Lahore in Pakistan became the second city served in the country, after Karachi.[20] In February 2013, flights to Yanbu from Dammam were launched. Also that month, the airline started flying from Dammam to Khartoum, with the Sudanese capital becoming the airline's first international destination to be linked to the Saudi city.[21]
In February 2014, Flynas introduced its Global Flight Routes program, aimed at offering affordable rates to passengers for flights between Jeddah and points in Africa, Asia and Europe,[22] and at carrying religious tourists to Saudi Arabia.[23] In March 2014,[24] Flynas incorporated the first of three Airbus A330s the carrier would lease from Portugal'sHi Fly. These aircraft, including both the –200 and the –300 models, would be used to start long-haul services.[25] The airline also planned to add the Airbus A350 to its fleet.[26]
Flynas became the first low-cost carrier to serve the Saudi Arabia-UK market when it launched the Jeddah–London Gatwick service, its first European long-haul route, in April 2014.[27] Medium-haul routes to Karachi and Lahore were also planned, along with long-haul services to Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Casablanca, Manchester and Islamabad.[28] Flights to Iran were also due to commence by the same time.[29] Manchester became the airline's second destination in the United Kingdom on 7 May 2014.[30][31]Cairo was made part of the route network in June 2014, making the Egyptian capital the carrier's seventh destination in the country.[32] The London-Gatwick–Riyadh sector would also be served from 27 July the same year.[33] A month later, it was informed that services to Manchester would be discontinued starting August 2014, just after three months of operations.[34][35] That month, the Indian market was expected to be served for the first time with flights to Hyderabad, followed by Calicut in September 2014.[36] Plans were also to serve France next as well as China, Philippines, Nigeria and South Africa later on.[26] Flynas also expected to serve the US market in 2015.[37] However, Manchester was removed from the carrier's list of destinations in early August 2014,[38] and in October the same year the airline announced the cancellation of most of its long- and mid-haul services owing to poor performance.[23][39][40] Also in October 2014, Al-Qassim was incorporated to the route network.[41]
At April 2015[update], Flynas' three top domestic routes in terms of available seats were Jeddah (JED)–Riyadh (RUH), Dammam (DMM)–RUH and JED–DMM.[42] The carrier also performs Hajj services.[43][44]
Nasmiles programme
Nasmiles is flynas' frequent flyer programme.[45][46]
Codeshare agreements
Flynas has a codeshare agreement with Etihad that dates back to 2012, allowing Flynas to place its code on a number of flights operated by Etihad that radiate from Abu Dhabi.[28][47] In May 2016, the airline signed a codeshare agreement with Pegasus Airlines.[48]
In February 2020, Flynas joined the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which will help the company with "greater co-operation" with other member airlines and increase connectivity through codeshare agreements.[49]
The managing director, and CEO of Flynas is Bander Almohanna, and the chairman of the board of directors is Ayed Aljeaid, and the vice-chairman is Talal AlMaiman, and the members of the board of directors are Hamza AlKholi, Saad AlMousa, and Saleh AlHenaki.[50]
In 2023, flynas firmed up an order with Airbus for 30 new A320neo Family aircraft during the Paris Air Show, taking the airline's total order with Airbus to 120 aircraft valued at SAR 46 billion.[53][54][55]
Previously operated
Throughout its history the carrier operated the following aircraft:
