Over 35,000 Iranian pilgrims to fly directly to Mecca as Flynas restarts operations from Tehran and Mashhad.
In a major step toward regional reconciliation, Saudi Arabia has resumed direct Hajj flights for Iranian pilgrims, marking the first such move since 2015. The flights, operated by Saudi budget airline Flynas, began on Saturday from Tehran and will soon include departures from Mashhad.
A Saudi civil aviation official confirmed that these flights are strictly for Hajj pilgrimage and not for commercial travel. More than 35,000 Iranian pilgrims are expected to benefit from this renewed air link as they prepare for the annual pilgrimage in early June.
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The restoration of direct travel routes follows the historic diplomatic thaw between Saudi Arabia and Iran, who re-established ties in March 2023 after years of tension. The breakthrough, brokered by China, came after a seven-year rupture sparked by Saudi Arabia’s execution of a prominent Shia cleric and violent protests in Iran.
Since then, both nations have exchanged ambassadors, resumed flights, and conducted high-level visits. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi’s landmark visit to Riyadh in November 2023, and the recent trip by Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman to Tehran, reflect growing cooperation between the two regional powers.
Earlier in December, Iran Air also resumed flights from Mashhad to Dammam, adding to the growing list of restored connections. The renewed Hajj flights represent not just a logistical win for pilgrims, but a powerful symbol of improving Saudi-Iran relations.
