Saudia Set to Attract 7.5 Million Indian Tourists Annually by 2030
This push is part of Saudi Arabia’s broader vision to attract 150 million visitors annually by the end of the decade.
In an effort to support Saudi Arabia’s tourism goals, Saudia, the Kingdom's flag carrier, is ramping up its operations in India. The airline has outlined its strategy to increase flight frequencies and expand its footprint in the Indian market to attract 7.5 million Indian visitors to Saudi Arabia annually by 2030. As part of this initiative, Saudia is focusing on modernising its fleet and leveraging cutting-edge technology to enhance the travel experience for its customers.
The airline is part of the broader Saudia Group, which also includes Flyadeal, a low-cost carrier that is expected to play a significant role in the expansion of flights between Saudi Arabia and India. In May 2024, the Saudia Group signed a major deal with Airbus to purchase 105 A320neo and A321neo aircraft, with 54 of those aircraft destined for Saudia and 51 for Flyadeal.
Currently, Saudia operates 54 weekly flights connecting six major Indian cities - Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kochi and Kozhikode - directly to Saudi Arabia. The airline is also testing its AI-powered platform, ‘Travel Companion’, which will provide personalized travel solutions to customers, allowing them to book flights, hotels, transportation, and other activities.
This push is part of Saudi Arabia’s broader vision to attract 150 million visitors annually by the end of the decade. The country’s tourism strategy focuses not only on religious tourism but also on cultural and leisure tourism, with India and China playing a central role in this expansion.
