In a landmark move signaling warming ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran, a Saudi low-cost carrier, Flynas, has resumed direct flights for Iranian Hajj pilgrims for the first time in nearly ten years. The inaugural flight took off from Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport on Saturday, marking a new chapter in the two nations’ relations.
A source from Saudi Arabia’s aviation authority revealed that Flynas is set to operate additional flights from Mashhad in the coming days. These flights are expected to transport over 35,000 Iranian pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for the annual Hajj, scheduled to commence in early June. “These are dedicated Hajj flights, not commercial services, designed exclusively to serve pilgrims,” the source clarified.
The resumption of these flights comes after a significant diplomatic breakthrough in March 2023, when Saudi Arabia and Iran restored ties through a China-mediated agreement, ending a seven-year estrangement. Relations between the two countries had deteriorated sharply in 2016 following protests in Iran over Saudi Arabia’s execution of a prominent Shiite figure, which led to attacks on Saudi diplomatic missions in Tehran and Mashhad. As a result, Saudi Arabia severed ties, and Iranian pilgrims were unable to attend Hajj that year due to logistical challenges.
In the years that followed, Iranian pilgrims could only participate in Hajj by traveling on Iranian-chartered flights, often through third countries. The reinstatement of direct Saudi flights for Iranians underscores the deepening cooperation between the two regional powers since their 2023 reconciliation.
With millions of Muslims worldwide converging on Saudi Arabia for this year’s Hajj, the restored flights are a practical step toward facilitating smoother pilgrimages for Iranians. This development is also seen as a testament to the ongoing diplomatic efforts to stabilize relations and foster mutual cooperation.
As preparations for Hajj intensify, the resumption of these flights is a hopeful sign of continued progress in Saudi-Iran relations, offering pilgrims a more seamless journey to one of Islam’s holiest rituals.
