Saudi Arabia’s SAUDIA has announced new flights to Beijing, China; Birmingham, UK; Kano, Nigeria and Johannesburg, South Africa.
The national carrier has collaborated with the Saudi Air Connectivity Program (ACP) and Saudi Tourism Authority to launch the new destinations.
It is part of a significant expansion program for 2023 and the expanded network follows SAUDIA’s objective of enhancing the Kingdom’s air connectivity and its reach to target international markets.
New Saudi flights launched
By collaborating with airlines to expand their operations in KSA, ACP seeks to promote growth and development within the tourism and aviation sectors, working to strengthen the Kingdom’s position as a leading destination for international travel.
Ali Rajab, CEO of ACP, said: “The opening of four new air routes across three different regions is the result of strong collaboration between the Saudi tourism and aviation ecosystems.
“These new routes offer a diverse mix of travel opportunities in the Kingdom, unlocking its rich cultural heritage and inviting travellers from around the world to experience the beauty and diversity of this remarkable destination.
“Air connectivity will play an increasingly important role in enabling tourism growth and creating new opportunities for businesses and tourists alike.
“We look forward to building on this momentum to unlock new destinations, and create a brighter future for the Kingdom”.
Ibrahim Koshy, CEO of SAUDIA, highlighted the airline’s ongoing commitment to investing in operational expansion.
He said: “We are dedicated to optimising our modern fleet to meet current and future expansion requirements”.
Koshy also emphasised the importance of initiatives aimed at increasing SAUDIA’s international market share, simplifying and facilitating travel procedures, and enhancing the travel experience for guests. In addition to increasing the Kingdom’s air connectivity, these initiatives also help grow the country’s budding tourism industry while improving its existing Hajj and Umrah-related travel networks.
The Kingdom’s tourism ecosystem has an ambitious target of reaching 100m visits annually by 2030, with air connectivity being a central part of achieving this goal.
the national tourism authority’s strategy focuses on understanding consumer demand and identifying key source markets.
These new direct flight routes have been launched as a response to the uptick in consumer demand from travellers looking to visit or transit through KSA from Beijing, Birmingham, Kano, and Johannesburg.
News source: arabianbusiness
