Flynas to Launch Flights to Kyrgyzstan as Part of Central Asia Network
Flynas, a low-cost carrier (LCC) based in Saudi Arabia, is planning to launch flights to Kyrgyzstan, the landlocked Central Asian state bordering China. The airline will add two services from Jeddah to Osh and Bishkek, starting from August 21 and September 2, 2023 respectively. The flights will operate three times per week using Airbus A320neo aircraft.
The new flights to Kyrgyzstan are part of flynas’ network expansion in the Central Asia region, where the airline sees strong demand for leisure and religious travel. The airline intends to connect Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED) with Osh Airport (OSS) and Bishkek’s Manas International Airport (FRU), offering the only nonstop flights between Saudi Arabia and Kyrgyzstan.
The flight schedule is as follows:
- JED-OSS: Departing JED at 10:00 a.m. and arriving at OSS at 4:00 p.m. local time on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays
- OSS-JED: Departing OSS at 5:00 p.m. and arriving at JED at 7:30 p.m. local time on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays
- JED-FRU: Departing JED at 10:00 a.m. and arriving at FRU at 4:00 p.m. local time on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays
- FRU-JED: Departing FRU at 5:00 p.m. and arriving at JED at 7:30 p.m. local time on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays
The flights are available for booking on flynas’ website and mobile app.
Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan is a mountainous country with a rich cultural heritage and natural beauty. The country has more than 80 mountain ranges, including the Tien Shan and Pamir ranges, which offer stunning scenery and opportunities for hiking, skiing, horse riding, and camping. The country also has many lakes, rivers, waterfalls, glaciers, and hot springs that attract visitors.
Osh is the second-largest city in Kyrgyzstan and one of the oldest cities in Central Asia. It is located in the Fergana Valley in the south of the country and is known for its historical monuments, bazaars, mosques, and museums. Osh is also a major pilgrimage site for Muslims, as it is home to the Sulayman Mountain, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is considered sacred by many.
Bishkek is the largest city and capital of Kyrgyzstan and is situated near the border with Kazakhstan. It is a modern and cosmopolitan city with a variety of cultural attractions, such as theaters, museums, art galleries, parks, and monuments. Bishkek is also a gateway to many natural attractions in the surrounding areas, such as Ala Archa National Park, Issyk-Kul Lake, Song-Kul Lake, and Chon-Kemin Valley.
What are the other network developments of flynas?
Flynas currently operates a fleet of 44 A320-family aircraft on its scheduled network, along with four A330s. The airline serves more than 120 destinations in 27 countries across the Middle East, Europe, Africa, Central Asia, and the Indian subcontinent. The airline has already launched 15 new routes this year, building on 30 route launches in 2022.
In May 2021, flynas launched a Request for Proposal (RFP) through Routes 360 to expand its network further inviting airports to pitch for new routes. Future targets include Bahrain , Bangladesh , India , Nigeria , and Sri Lanka , targeting inbound tourists and religious traffic.
In June 2021, flynas firmed an order for 30 Airbus A320neo-family aircraft at the Paris Air Show , taking its total order with Airbus to 120 A320neo aircraft , including 10 A321XLRs . The airline plans to use the new aircraft to increase its capacity and efficiency and to open new markets.
Flynas has three main bases—at Riyadh , Jeddah , and Dammam —underpinning its network. The airline carried more than 8.7 million passengers in 2019 , putting it 15% ahead of 2019 . During Q1 2023 , passenger numbers totaled 2.4 million , representing a rise of some 26% compared with the same period in 2022 .