The Saudi Air Connectivity Program (ACP) and LOT Polish Airlines have entered into a new agreement aimed at creating air travel connections between Poland and Saudi Arabia for the first time. This collaboration will see the launch of a direct flight route connecting the two capital cities, Warsaw and Riyadh, with ticket sales set to commence in June 2024.

The announcement took place at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Air Services Negotiation (ICAN2023) event in Riyadh, hosted by the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA).

Marking ACP's twelfth air connection from Europe to Saudi Arabia, the newly established route will be a key enabler to grow inbound visitation from Poland and increase connectivity with Eastern Europe via Warsaw. As demand for air travel from the EU to Saudi Arabia continues to increase, the route will stimulate growth in tourism, trade, and cultural exchange.

With inbound passenger numbers from Poland to the Kingdom up by 43% in 2023 (year-on-year), the Warsaw-Riyadh route will feature three weekly flights, totaling 156 roundtrip flights annually. It will accommodate 58,968 seats annually on LOT’s Boeing 787-8 aircraft.  

Michał Fijoł, CEO of LOT Polish Airlines, commented, ‘’While planning our network of connections, we strive to provide our passengers with inspiration to explore the world. Therefore, the opening of Saudi Arabia to tourism is a source of joy, and the best evidence is the agreement on direct air connections between Saudi Arabia and Poland. I believe Riyadh will be an interesting destination for those who like to discover new, unexpected places. In less than 7 hours spent on board the Dreamliner PLL LOT, our passengers will be able to discover new, inspiring landmarks.’’

The collaboration between ACP and LOT Polish Airlines represents the Program's third international partnership with an air carrier, building on the recent cooperation with Hainan Airlines earlier this year and Wizz Air last year. This aligns with the Program's business objective of facilitating route expansion and increasing capacity to serve Saudi Arabia’s growing inbound tourism demand.

Ali Rajab, CEO of ACP, highlighted, “The collaboration between ACP and LOT Polish Airlines is a significant step forward in our efforts to advance air connectivity in the Kingdom. Through this partnership, we’re not only connecting two cities but also creating a gateway for Polish travelers to explore the unique experiences Saudi Arabia has to offer.’’

He added, ‘’The new Warsaw-Riyadh route aligns perfectly with ACP’s goals of expanding air networks with the European market and providing seamless travel experiences for passengers. We look forward to working with LOT Polish Airlines and welcoming Polish visitors to embark on their own journeys of discovery.’’

In line with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, the Kingdom is drastically scaling up its air route capacity, aiming to increase accessibility and become a leading aviation hub in the Middle East. The Ministry of Tourism has expanded e-visa eligibility to visitors from six new countries, bringing the total to 63.

Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: flynas, the national air carrier and the leading low-cost airline in the world and the Middle East, has announced the launch of direct flights between Brussels and Jeddah. The new destination is a result of flynas’ partnership with the Air Connectivity Program (ACP) and the airline’s planned expansion of its international network.

This growth aligns with the National Aviation Strategy’s goals of accommodating 330 million passengers and attracting 100 million tourists by 2030. This moves the Kingdom towards its aim of establishing itself as a global travel and tourism hub with more than 250 international destinations connected by the end of the decade. Additionally, it furthers the goals of the Pilgrim Experience Program, aimed at simplifying access to the Two Holy Mosques. 

flynas will launch its maiden direct flight from King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah to Brussels on December 2nd with three weekly flights.

Bander Almohanna, CEO and Managing Director of flynas, said: "With the addition of this new destination connecting Jeddah to the capital of Belgium, Brussels, flynas continues to strengthen its position as a globally leading low-cost airline, and expand its growing network of destinations within our strategic partnership with ACP.” 

Ali Rajab, CEO of ACP, said, “Europe remains a pivotal market for Saudi Arabia. Building upon the successful launch of the Marseille-Jeddah route by flynas last year, the introduction of this new route to Brussels serves as a significant step forward in our ongoing commitment to bolster air connectivity with Europe. We are eager to continue facilitating improved access for European travelers to the Kingdom by collaborating with both local and international airlines.”  

He added, “I would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to His Excellency Ahmed Al-Khateeb, the Minister of Tourism and Chairman of ACP’s Overseeing Committee, as well as the leaders of the aviation and tourism ecosystems. Their continuous support has been instrumental in our mission to strengthen air connectivity to the Kingdom.’’

Currently, flynas connects more than 70 domestic and international destinations, with more than 1,500 weekly flights, flying over 60 million passengers since its launch in 2007. The carrier's growth plan aims to reach 165 domestic and international destinations by 2030, in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.

About the Air Connectivity Program
The Saudi Air Connectivity Program (ACP) was established in 2021 to contribute to tourism growth in Saudi Arabia by enhancing air connectivity and developing existing and prospective air routes, connecting Saudi Arabia to new destinations. ACP works at the intersection of tourism and aviation by bridging the stakeholder ecosystem to enable the National Tourism Strategy’s vision and establish Saudi Arabia as a global leader in tourism air connectivity.

About flynas:
flynas has been acknowledged for its achievements through several international awards. Notably, the airline received the Skytrax International Award as the Best Low-cost Airline in the Middle East for the sixth consecutive year in 2023, also securing the 4th position globally among Low-cost Carriers (LCCs). This award holds substantial recognition in the aviation sector since its inception in 1999.  

Meanwhile, flynas won the Best Low-cost Airline Award in the Middle East from the World Travel Awards in 2022 for the eighth year in a row. In an assessment conducted by the non-profit organization APEX, one of the most significant international airline associations, which encompasses 600 airlines worldwide across various categories, flynas earned a four-star rating, positioning it as one of the highest-rated low-cost carriers globally.

Passengers traveling with flynas can book their flights through all flynas booking channels: www.flynas.com, the flynas app, the call centre (920001234), or travel agents.

Saudi Arabia is increasingly forming new deals and partnerships with both local and international airlines

Istanbul: Routes World 2023, held October 15-17 in Istanbul, Türkiye, drew global attention to Saudi Arabia's air connectivity potential, with global decision-makers in aviation turning their focus to the Kingdom's burgeoning market.

This year’s Saudi participation, facilitated by ACP – an entity dedicated to contributing to tourism growth by increasing air connectivity to Saudi Arabia – involved over 60 meetings with global aviation leaders to explore partnership opportunities in the Kingdom.

“We are delighted with the positive and impactful engagements the Saudi delegation had at Routes World 2023,” Ali Rajab, CEO of ACP, said after the event. “Saudi Arabia is establishing itself as a leader in tourism and aviation, thanks to the collaborative efforts of the Saudi connectivity ecosystem. ACP has played a key role in these endeavors, and this is evident from the success of this year’s participation.”

As part of the Saudi connectivity ecosystem’s participation in Routes World 2023, Rajab engaged in a panel discussion alongside global leaders on trends shaping the aviation industry. During the session, titled “Sustainable Tourism – Travel and Trends,” Rajab shared his insights on the importance of consistent regulations within the aviation industry and the necessity for collaborative efforts among stakeholders to promote sustainable growth in airline networks.

“In a world facing evolving travel trends, unified and simplified laws and regulations are essential for ensuring resilience. Only through collaborative efforts among all stakeholders and a robust regulatory framework can the aviation industry adapt more seamlessly to changing circumstances and promote sustainable growth in airline networks,” Rajab said.

Saudi Arabia is increasingly forming new deals and partnerships with both local and international airlines. This has led to the ongoing expansion of air connectivity to the Kingdom, with 16 new routes having opened from June 2022 to July 2023. The expansion is notably reflected in Saudi Arabia's improved International Air Transport Association (IATA) Ranking, moving from 27th in 2019 to 13th in 2023.

• flynas and the Saudi Air Connectivity Program (ACP) have introduced a new Jeddah-Bishkek, increasing Saudi Arabia-Central Asia connectivity. 
• The direct flights to Kyrgyzstan’s capital city will see three flights per week, expanding flynas’ footprint across Central Asia and increasing access to the Kingdom.

Jeddah – October 4, 2023: flynas, the leading Saudi low-cost carrier (LLC) is expanding its flight options from Kyrgyzstan to Saudi Arabia by adding three direct weekly flights from Bishkek, the country’s capital city, to Jeddah. This expansion is a part of ACP's efforts to enhance air route access to the Kingdom while also furthering flynas' operational coverage across Central Asia.

flynas, which has adopted the slogan “We connect the Kingdom to the world” is experiencing consistent market growth. This is marked by accolades such as being the Middle East’s top LLC by the Skytrax International Awards for the 6th consecutive year and ranking as the 4th best globally in 2023. 

The announcement of this new route was made during two separate events, one in Jeddah on October 3rd and another in Bishkek on October 4th. The October 3rd event took place at Jeddah's King Abdulaziz International Airport and was attended by His Excellency Ulukbek Maripov, Ambassador of the Kyrgyz Republic to Saudi Arabia, as well as representatives from flynas, ACP, and Jeddah Airports Company.  

On Wednesday, October 4th, flynas hosted a separate event in Bishkek to coincide with the inaugural flight from Jeddah to Bishkek. The flight received a ceremonial water salute upon arrival at Manas International Airport. This event was graced by the presence of His Excellency Ibrahim bin Radi Al-Radi, Saudi Arabia's Ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic, alongside His Excellency Ulukbek Maripov, in celebration of the maiden flight to Bishkek.  

Officials from the Kyrgyz aviation and tourism authorities, as well as prominent travel agencies, also attended the event. The Jeddah-Bishkek route will operate every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. 

In line with the objectives of the Pilgrim Experience Program (PEP), aimed at facilitating easier access for pilgrims to the Two Holy Mosques in Saudi Arabia, ACP and flynas view this expansion into Central Asia as a promising growth opportunity for Saudi aviation.  

This expansion initiative also contributes to the goals of the National Tourism Strategy and National Civil Aviation Strategy, which aim to connect the Kingdom with 250 destinations worldwide, attract 330 million passengers to Saudi Arabia, and welcome 100 million tourists to the country by 2030. 

About the Air Connectivity Program:
The Saudi Air Connectivity Program (ACP) was established in 2021 to contribute to tourism growth in Saudi Arabia by enhancing air connectivity and developing existing and prospective air routes, connecting Saudi Arabia to new destinations. ACP works at the intersection of tourism and aviation by bridging the stakeholder ecosystem to enable the National Tourism Strategy's vision and establish Saudi Arabia as a global leader in tourism air connectivity.