Saudi Arabia: Saudi airline flynas on Monday reported record results for 2023, with passenger numbers rising by more than 28 percent over the previous year to more than 11.1 million.

The low-cost carrier took delivery of 19 new aircraft during the year, increasing its fleet size to 64, a rise of more than 35 percent.

In a statement, flynas said that it was moving forward with a strategic plan for growth and expansion under the slogan “We Connect the World to the Kingdom.”

The carrier launched 57 new destinations and routes to 10 countries during the year, opened its fourth operations base at Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah, and increased seat capacity by 22 percent for domestic and international flights.

Bander Almohanna, CEO and managing director, said that the airline’s performance in 2023 “reflects the strength of our business model, the distinguished effort made by our team, and the effectiveness of our strategic plan for growth and expansion.”

He said that investments to increase the fleet size and destinations network have helped make flynas one of the top four low-cost carriers in the world and the best in the Middle East.

Almohanna said that flynas has signed an agreement with Airbus to buy 30 new A320neo aircraft as part of a 120-aircraft order worth SR32 billion ($8.5 billion), with plans to increase the order to 250 aircraft.

The airline is determined to pursue its expansion to new markets, with announcements to be made during the first quarter of 2024, as the aviation industry in the Kingdom is experiencing unprecedented development thanks to the strength of the Saudi economy, he added.

The carrier’s success has been recognized with the Skytrax International Award as the best low-cost airline in the Middle East in 2023 for the sixth time in a row.

In 2023, flynas was also named best low-cost airline in the Middle East by the World Travel Awards for the ninth consecutive year.