With the support of the Saudi Air Connectivity Program (ACP) and Saudi Tourism Authority, Saudi Arabia’s national carrier, SAUDIA, has announced new direct flight routes from four cities.
The destinations include Kano in Nigeria, Birmingham in the UK, Johannesburg in South Africa and Beijing in China.
According to Arabian Business, 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 and is set to strengthen the country’s position as a top travel destination by increasing accessibility for tourists from these regions.
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.
