Saudi Arabia’s aviation sector has made notable advances in global rankings, with Saudia, the national flag carrier, rising to 15th place in the 2026 Skytrax World Airline Awards. This marks an improvement from its 17th position last year and 20th in 2024. Meanwhile, flynas maintained its standing as the Middle East’s top low-cost airline for the ninth consecutive year, placing eighth among the world’s best budget carriers.

The Skytrax awards ceremony took place in London and highlighted the progress of Saudi Arabia’s aviation industry, which is undergoing significant development as part of the Saudi Aviation Strategy. This initiative, integral to the broader Vision 2030 and the National Transport and Logistics Strategy, aims to expand the country’s aviation capabilities, enhance passenger experiences, and reinforce Saudi Arabia’s role as a global aviation hub.

The strategy is supported by approximately $100 billion in planned investments from both public and private sectors, underscoring the Kingdom’s commitment to modernizing its air transport infrastructure and services.

Saleh Al-Jasser, Saudi Arabia’s minister of transport and logistics services, acknowledged the achievements of Saudia and flynas on his social media platform, describing the improvements as reflective of the overall enhancement of the travel experience and service quality within the country’s air transport sector.