Low cost carrier flynas adds Bahrain to KSA routes

Source: flynas.

Saudi Arabian national carrier flynas has launched new flights from KSA to Bahrain, expanding its reach to 26 destinations throughout the region. Bahrain is the third destination to be added to the flynas GCC network, after Dubai and Kuwait.

In 2014 alone, 6 million Saudis visited Bahrain – a year-on-year increase of 19.3%, making them by far the largest segment of visitors from a total of 6.6 million GCC travelers to Bahrain. The significant growth in the number of travelers between Bahrain and KSA serves to reinforce the long-standing relationship the two countries share across their business and leisure sectors.

Bander Al Mohanna, Nas Holding Group CEO said, “Flynas is pleased to touch down in Bahrain and the introduction of this key destination to our GCC network is a major step forward in our commitment to offer greater connectivity, affordability and convenience to our growing consumer base. Moreover, with the addition of Bahrain, and we look forward to continue expanding into other regional cities in the future as part of our long-term expansion plans.”

Both Riyadh and Jeddah flights will operate three times weekly every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. The two routes will be operated using an Airbus A320 aircraft with the capacity to carry 164 passengers in a two-class configuration – 156 in economy and eight in business class.

The flights from the Saudi capital depart at 6:50pm, arriving in Bahrain at 8pm. The return departs at 8:50pm to arrive in Riyadh at 10pm local time. The flights from Jeddah depart at 4:55pm with an arrival at 7:25pm. The return flight leaves Bahrain at 8:15pm, arriving into King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah at 10:55pm local time.

“Given the high demand for this route, we are confident that this new service will benefit both markets on account of Bahrain’s strong appeal as an attractive destination for business and leisure,” added Al Mohanna.

“We would like to congratulate flynas on successfully adding these important routes to their growing network of destinations within the region. Flynas’ decision to launch this new service between KSA and Bahrain will certainly enhance travel options for domestic, regional and international visitors alike and also give the regional aviation sector a significant boost especially as we continue to see a sustained increase in the number of students and leisure guests travelling between the two countries each year,” said Mohamed Khalil, Chief Commercial Officer of Bahrain Airport Company.

Interested?

Introductory fares for flights between Riyadh and Bahrain start from SAR 299 and SAR 399 for Jeddah to Bahrain.

Etihad offers more Riyadh-Abu Dhabi flights through flynas codeshare

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, is expanding its Saudi Arabian network through a new five-times-per-week service between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi operated by its codeshare partner flynas. This comes as part of an expanded codeshare agreement between the two airlines, which was initially signed in October 2012. The current codeshare scope allows flynas to place its ‘XY’ code on 226 Etihad Airways’ flights between Abu Dhabi and 20 destinations around the world.

Commencing on 16 December 2015, the new flynas service will complement Etihad Airways’ existing 13 weekly flights between Abu Dhabi and Riyadh to provide guests with 18 weekly flights and greater choice and flexibility whether travelling from Saudi Arabia, the UAE or beyond.

The flights will be operated by a two-class Airbus A320 aircraft, offering an additional 1,640 seats per week,and ensuring maximum connectivity through Etihad Airways’ Abu Dhabi hub.

Kevin Knight, Etihad Airways’ Chief Strategy and Planning Officer, said: “Riyadh is an important strategic destination for us due to the established cultural and commercial ties between the UAE and Saudi Arabia. The new flynas Riyadh service will strengthen our Saudi Arabian network further, but more importantly, it will give business and leisure travellers greater choice and better flight connections in their travel to Abu Dhabi and on to Etihad Airways’ worldwide network.”

Bander Al Mohanna, NAS Holding CEO, said: “We are delighted to partner with Etihad Airways to add Abu Dhabi to flynas’ destinations within the GCC. Flynas continues to expand across the region and by adding Abu Dhabi to our GCC route network, we are significantly increasing both capacity and choice for travellers, including pilgrims as well as business commuters and leisure seekers. Moreover, we expect the mix of people travelling on the Abu Dhabi route to include flynas’ guests in transit to other destinations, which will substantially increase the volume of codeshare traffic.”

Etihad Airways has 49 codeshare agreements in place with airlines across the world, including flynas, which gives it a combined passenger and cargo network of 600 destinations, and over 25,200 flights per week, more than any other Middle Eastern airline. Codeshare partnerships, along with minority equity investments and organic growth, form the three pillars of Etihad Airways expansion plans.

Etihad Airways launched services between Abu Dhabi and Riyadh in December 2004. The airline offers 46 flights per week between the UAE’s capital and the Saudi Arabian cities of Jeddah, Damman, Riyadh and Medina. Services are often increased to 55 flights per week on temporary operating permits.

The Etihad Airways and flynas Riyadh – Abu Dhabi schedule effective 16 December 2015:

Flight No. From Dep To Arr Freq Aircraft EY315 Abu Dhabi 02:00 Riyadh 2:50 Daily A330-300 EY316 Riyadh 04:00 Abu Dhabi 7:10 Daily A330-300 EY317 Abu Dhabi 11:55 Riyadh 12:55 Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun A340-600 EY318 Riyadh 16:00 Abu Dhabi 18:45 Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun A340-600 XY609 Abu Dhabi 14:45 Riyadh 15:45 Tue, Wed, Thu, Sat, Sun A320 XY608 Riyadh 09:45 Abu Dhabi 12:45 Tue, Wed, Thu, Sat, Sun

Note: All departures and arrivals are listed in local time.