Saudi budget carrier Flynas reinstated direct flights for Iranian Hajj pilgrims on Saturday, marking the first such service in a decade and signaling a tentative diplomatic warming between the regional rivals. The airline will operate non-commercial, pilgrimage-specific flights from Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Airport and Mashhad starting in early June, facilitating travel for at least 35,000 Iranian pilgrims to this year’s Hajj. Saudi Arabia’s civil aviation authority emphasized the flights reflect “cautious but growing collaboration” amid easing tensions.
Diplomatic Breakthrough Paves Way for Pilgrimage Easing
The resumption follows a landmark China-mediated reconciliation in March 2023, which restored Saudi-Iran ties after a seven-year rupture. Relations had collapsed in 2016 when Saudi Arabia severed diplomatic links following protests over Riyadh’s execution of prominent Shia cleric Nimr al-Nimr, during which demonstrators stormed Saudi diplomatic compounds in Iran. Hajj pilgrimages were suspended that year and operated under tight restrictions via chartered Iranian flights until now.
Hajj Emerges as Symbol of Fragile Cooperation
The Hajj, a pillar of Islam requiring Muslims to visit Mecca if able, has long served as an intermittent diplomatic channel between the two nations. While Iranians were permitted to attend post-2016, logistical hurdles and political friction curtailed participation. The Flynas initiative represents the most significant relaxation of travel barriers since détente began, aligning with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 plan to position itself as a global hub for religious tourism.
Analysts note the move underscores Riyadh’s pragmatic outreach to stabilize regional relations while advancing economic diversification goals. However, challenges persist: trust remains fragile, and broader geopolitical disputes—including Yemen’s conflict and nuclear negotiations—continue to test the reconciliation.