Saudi low-cost carrier Flynas is in the middle of an aggressive network expansion, and three new routes announced this week will give Umrah travellers more budget-friendly options for getting to the Kingdom. The airline confirmed a new service to Kochi, India, launched its first direct flight to Aleppo, Syria, and revealed plans for a Madinah-Brussels connection, all within a single week’s news cycle.
This article is correct as of 2026-08-08.
Riyadh-Kochi: A new budget option for South Indian Umrah travellers
From September 1, 2026, Flynas will operate three weekly flights between Riyadh and Kochi (Cochin), a major port city in Kerala, India [1]. Kerala sends a significant number of Umrah pilgrims each year, and until now, the Riyadh-Kochi route was served primarily by Saudia, Air India Express, and Akasa Air. Flynas entering the mix means more competition on pricing, which is exactly what DIY Umrah planners want to see.
Flynas confirmed the launch on its official social media channels, and industry publication Aviation Week reported the new route on August 7 as part of its rolling route-news coverage [1]. The airline will use Airbus A320 aircraft on this sector.
For pilgrims from Kochi and surrounding districts, a direct flight to Riyadh cuts out the need to transit through Dubai, Abu Dhabi, or Doha. That means fewer hours in airports, less risk of missed connections, and typically a lower total fare. If you are planning Umrah from Kerala in late 2026 or early 2027, keep an eye on Flynas fares once the route goes live.
Riyadh-Aleppo: Direct flights resume to Syria
Flynas has also launched its first nonstop service between Riyadh and Aleppo, Syria. The twice-weekly route started in early August 2026 and increases the airline’s total Saudi Arabia-Syria operation to 26 flights per week [1]. Flynas now flies to Damascus 14 times weekly from Riyadh, seven times weekly from Jeddah, and three times weekly from Dammam, with the new Aleppo service adding two more frequencies.
This is significant for Umrah travellers from Syria or those with family connections in the Aleppo region. For years, reaching Saudi Arabia from northern Syria meant long overland journeys to Damascus or connections through third countries. A direct flight from Aleppo to Riyadh changes the equation completely.
The Aleppo-Riyadh route also creates new options for pilgrims who want to combine Umrah with a visit to family in Syria. Instead of booking separate tickets and managing a transit stop, you can now fly Aleppo-Riyadh, perform Umrah, and return directly.
Madinah-Brussels: Europe gets a direct link to the Prophet’s Mosque
In a major boost for European Umrah travellers, Flynas also confirmed plans to launch a twice-weekly service between Madinah and Brussels starting October 5, 2026 [1]. Madinah is the second holiest city in Islam and a mandatory stop for nearly every Umrah trip, yet direct international flights to Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport remain far fewer than those into Jeddah or Riyadh.
A direct Madinah-Brussels route means European pilgrims can land in Madinah first, visit the Prophet’s Mosque, and then travel to Makkah by road or high-speed rail, without the extra hours of backtracking from Jeddah. For anyone who has done Umrah before, the appeal of starting in Madinah is obvious: it is calmer, less crowded, and logistically simpler than arriving in Jeddah and immediately facing the Makkah rush.
Flynas says the new service is part of its strategy to connect Saudi Arabia with more international destinations and supports the country’s Vision 2030 objective to expand international connectivity and boost tourism [1]. In practical terms, it also puts pressure on full-service carriers flying Europe-Saudi routes. If Flynas prices the Madinah-Brussels route aggressively, other airlines serving Jeddah and Riyadh from Belgium, the Netherlands, and northern France will have to respond. That is good news for any Umrah traveller budgeting for 2027.
What this means for DIY Umrah planners
Three practical takeaways from this week’s Flynas announcements:
Kerala travellers get more options from September. If you are in Kochi or nearby districts, start tracking Flynas fares in late August. New routes often launch with promotional pricing. Compare against Air India Express and Akasa Air before booking.
Syrian pilgrims now have a northern gateway. Aleppo-Riyadh is a direct, affordable option that did not exist a month ago. Check Flynas schedules for connecting flights if your final destination is Jeddah or Madinah for Umrah.
European pilgrims should watch Madinah-Brussels pricing. A direct flight into Madinah saves time and simplifies logistics. If you normally fly into Jeddah and take the train or taxi to Madinah first, the Brussels-Madinah option could be cheaper and faster overall, even with a positioning flight to Brussels from elsewhere in Europe.
The bigger picture: Flynas is reshaping the Saudi budget travel map
Flynas has been on an expansion tear throughout 2025 and 2026, and these three routes are part of a broader pattern. The airline is targeting underserved corridors where full-service carriers have had little competition on price. India, Syria, and Europe are all major source markets for Umrah pilgrims, and in each case, Flynas is entering routes where the existing options were limited or expensive.
This matters for Umrah travel planning because budget airlines directly affect what the full-service carriers charge. When Flynas launches a new route, Saudia typically adjusts its own pricing on overlapping sectors. The knock-on effect is lower fares even for travellers who do not fly Flynas. Savvy DIY planners watch airline route announcements precisely for this reason: a new route today often means a fare drop across the board within a few months.
Related UmrahDIY guides: For a complete Umrah flight booking guide, see documents required for your Umrah visa. For pre-travel planning, read our Nusuk app setup and booking guide.
Notes
- [1] “Routes & Networks Latest: Rolling Daily Updates (W/C Aug. 3, 2026),” Aviation Week, August 7, 2026. https://aviationweek.com/air-transport/airports-networks/routes-networks-latest-rolling-daily-updates-wc-aug-3-2026, Reports Flynas plans for Riyadh-Kochi (3X-weekly from Sept. 1), Riyadh-Aleppo (2X-weekly, launched), and Madinah-Brussels (2X-weekly from Oct. 5).
