Saudi flyadeal launches Lahore flights, expands Pakistan network to five cities

In this file photo, taken on February 1, 2025, shows Saudi Arabia’s low-cost airline flyadeal landing at the Jinnah International Airport in Karachi. (CAA/File)
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Updated 03 November 2025
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Saudi flyadeal launches Lahore flights, expands Pakistan network to five cities

  • Twice-weekly Lahore flights bring flyadeal’s Pakistan network to five cities, 18 weekly services
  • Expansion aligns with Saudi Vision 2030 goals to boost tourism and regional connectivity

ISLAMABAD: Saudi Arabia’s low-cost airline flyadeal has launched scheduled flights to Lahore, its fifth destination in Pakistan this year, as part of a rapid regional expansion plan aligned with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 strategy to boost connectivity and tourism.

A subsidiary of the national carrier Saudia, flyadeal has become one of the Middle East’s fastest-growing airlines since its launch in 2017. The Lahore route adds to services to Karachi, Islamabad, Peshawar and Sialkot, all introduced since February 2025, bringing the total number of weekly flights between the two countries to 18.

Flight F3 655 from Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport landed at Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport last week where it was greeted with a water-cannon salute and a ceremony attended by airport and airline officials.

“It’s been an incredible achievement to build a countrywide operation from one to five cities across Pakistan in just eight months,” said Steven Greenway, flyadeal’s Chief Executive Officer.

“Entering any market is always a baby-step process. But our operational and commercial teams have done an impressive job to plan, launch, expand and set up the necessary infrastructure so quickly to sell, market and promote our flights in a short space of time.”

Tickets for flyadeal’s Pakistan services are available via the airline’s website, mobile app and partner travel agencies, the company said.

Farooq Ahmad, flyadeal’s Head of Sales, said:

“Pakistan has proved to be one of flyadeal’s success stories. We’ve matured very quickly in a country building confidence within the travel agency community to sell, and among consumers to fly with us especially being a relatively new entrant to a dynamic market that Pakistan is.”

The twice-weekly Lahore flights will serve both inbound business travelers and outbound Pakistani expatriates working in the Kingdom. All Pakistan routes are operated with Airbus A320 aircraft configured with 186 Economy Class seats.

flyadeal currently flies 42 A320s from bases in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam to more than 30 destinations across the Middle East, North Africa, Europe and South Asia.

Under Saudi Vision 2030, the airline plans to triple its network to over 100 destinations with a fleet exceeding 100 aircraft by 2030.


International Cricket Council in talks to revive India-Pakistan T20 World Cup clash

Updated 07 February 2026
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International Cricket Council in talks to revive India-Pakistan T20 World Cup clash

  • Pakistan face two-point loss and net run-rate hit if they forfeit Feb. 15 match
  • ICC seeks dialogue after Pakistan boycott clash citing government directive

NEW DELHI, India: The International Cricket Council is in talks with the Pakistan Cricket Board to resolve the boycott of its T20 World Cup match against India on February 15, AFP learnt Saturday.

Any clash between arch-rivals India and Pakistan is one of the most lucrative in cricket, worth millions of dollars in broadcast, sponsor and advertising revenue.

But the fixture was thrown into doubt after Pakistan’s government ordered the team not to play the match in Colombo.

The Pakistan Cricket Board reached out to the ICC after a formal communication from the cricket’s world body, a source close to the developments told AFP.

The ICC was seeking a resolution through dialogue and not confrontation, the source added.

The 20-team tournament has been overshadowed by an acrimonious political build-up after Bangladesh, who refused to play in India citing security concerns, were replaced by Scotland.

As a protest, Pakistan refused to face co-hosts India in their Group A fixture.

Pakistan, who edged out Netherlands in the tournament opener on Saturday, will lose two points if they forfeit the match and also suffer a significant blow to their net run rate.

India skipper Suryakumar Yadav said this week that his team would travel to Colombo for the clash.

Pakistan and India have not played bilateral cricket for more than a decade, and meet only in global or regional tournaments.