Nesma Airlines (Saudi Arabia) (NSS, Hail) commenced scheduled passenger operations with its maiden flight Hail-Qaisumah on Thursday, October 27. Flight NM116 was carried out by one of the carrier's two ATR72-600s, HZ-FFG (cn 1311), on lease from DAE Capital.

The start-up's initial operations will focus on Saudi Arabia's northern regions with flights offered to Turaif, Arar, Rafha, Jouf, Tabuk, and Madinah.

Egyptian sister carrier Nesma Airlines (NE, Cairo International) already connects Hail with Cairo International using a 3x weekly A320-200 service.