SriLankan Airlines partners with Flynas to boost Saudi connectivity

By Shannine Daniel

SriLankan Airlines has entered into a partnership with Saudi Arabia’s Flynas to enhance air connectivity between the two countries, with the aim of offering the passengers more convenient travel options across key routes.

The alliance is aimed at improving access for tourists, business travellers and pilgrims by enabling smoother connections between international and domestic flights. 

Under the arrangement, SriLankan Airlines operates flights to major Saudi cities including Riyadh and Dammam, with onward connectivity available through Flynas’ extensive domestic network. The passengers travelling via Colombo or Dammam can now access a wider range of destinations within Saudi Arabia with greater ease, a SriLankan airlines official told Mirror Business.

Flynas, headquartered in Riyadh, is a leading low-cost carrier operating over 1,500 weekly flights to more than 70 domestic and international destinations. The airline has been recognised multiple times as the Middle East’s leading low-cost carrier and offers budget-friendly travel options across Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and parts of Asia.

“The passengers will be more comfortable with this arrangement because their baggage can be tagged to their final destination. Otherwise, when two airlines are involved, sometimes the passengers’ baggage isn’t tagged correctly,” the official said.

They added that the partnership also enhances the overall travel experience through reduced transit times and more efficient connections, noting that the passengers won’t have to worry about any changes in the baggage allowance either when flying with both airlines. Another key benefit is the ability for the passengers to transition seamlessly between the two carriers through better-coordinated schedules and simplified booking processes. Moreover, the collaboration is expected to support both tourism and labour mobility. Improved access to secondary cities in Saudi Arabia is particularly beneficial for Sri Lankan migrant workers, with potentially lower travel costs and greater flexibility in routes and schedules.

At the same time, the partnership aligns with SriLankan Airlines’ broader strategy to strengthen its Middle East footprint, including the expansion of routes such as Colombo-Riyadh. 

For Flynas, the agreement opens up greater access to Sri Lanka and beyond, via Colombo.