Saudi's Flyadeal said to study long-haul operations

Saudi Arabia's budget carrier Flyadeal is looking at operating long-haul flights as discussions for closer co-operation with Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia), its parent company, continues, a senior airline executive told The National.

"The carriers are looking at ways to 'optimize' their operations over the next year or two, and no final decisions have been made yet," said Sudeep Ghai, chief customer and commercial officer at Flyadeal.

Meanwhile, the airline is expected to select between narrow-body planes by either Boeing 737 Maxs or Airbus A320s for its planned 50-jet order this month, which will extend  its reach to destinations in the Indian subcontinent or parts of West Africa.

Currently, Flyadeal operates a fleet of eight leased Airbus A320ceos and will add another three by early January 2019, allowing it to expand from 10 to 14 domestic destinations, Reuters reported.