Dhaka: Saudi Arabia’s low-cost carrier flyadeal plans to begin services to Indian cities, including Mumbai, in the first quarter of 2026, as it looks to tap into the country’s fast-growing aviation market, its chief executive said.

The airline's CEO, Steven Greenway, told agency that India is one of the "most hyper-competitive markets" in the world and there is a need to have an "absolute, brutal focus on unit cost".

"Our intent is to start operating (to India) in the quarter one of next year... We expect to do the metropolises like Mumbai and Delhi, and also, our focus will be the secondary cities in India... I think Mumbai would be the first one," Greenway told agency in an interview.

Saudi Arabia and India have a significant domestic aviation market, and flyadeal connects 25 destinations in its home country.

A sister airline of Saudia, the Jeddah-based flyadeal has been operating for more than eight years and expects to expand its fleet to 46 aircraft by the end of this year from the current 42 Airbus A320-family jets.

The carrier has also ordered 10 Airbus A330neo wide-body aircraft, which are scheduled for delivery starting July 2027.

-B