The inaugural SAUDIA flight going from Jeddah to Birmingham (SV  0251) took off today at 8:00 am from King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah. To commemorate this occasion, a ceremony was held at the airport’s Alfursan Lounge ahead of the flight’s take-off, as the SAUDIA team celebrated with a ribbon and cake-cutting ceremony in the departure’s hall. Chocolate souvenirs and a special boarding pass celebrating this historic occasion was also distributed to the departing guests. 

The ceremony was held in the presence of Cecille El Beleidi, British Consul General of the United Kingdom to Jeddah; Neil Crompton, British Ambassador to Saudi Arabia; Sultan Otaify, VP Strategy and Communication at ACP; Rashed Alshammari , VP Commercial at ACP, and Manal Alshehri, Vice President of Passenger Sales at SAUDIA.

Manal Alshehri, Vice President of Passenger Sales at SAUDIA said: “We are proud to be expanding our operations in the United Kingdom and continue to regularly offer new destinations to our guests. The United Kingdom is a very important destination for SAUDIA, and the launch of new direct flights to and from Birmingham highlights the strengthening of relations between our two countries. We’re also very grateful for the continuous support from the Air Connectivity Program, which enables us to continue to grow as we work towards our objective to bring the world to Saudi Arabia.”

Sultan Otaify, VP of Strategy and Communication at ACP added, "In collaboration with ACP, SAUDIA has launched a direct flight to Birmingham, a city steeped in history and a renowned hub of the Industrial Revolution. As this new route becomes part of the growing air network facilitated by ACP, it significantly contributes to the flourishing tourism between Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom. It is through such bilateral initiatives that we witness the positive trajectory of Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom’s relationship, as both countries strive to simplify and streamline travel processes. ACP is committed to empowering carriers in their efforts to unlock new destinations and travel experiences that showcase the rich cultural heritage and diverse attractions of Saudi Arabia.’’

The aircraft was welcomed at Birmingham Airport with a water salute, where SAUDIA held another celebration for the return flight from Birmingham to Jeddah. The event was attended by Ronald F. Mathieu, Chief Executive Officer of the Birmingham Airport Authority; Mohsen Abduljawwad, Head of Brand and Communication at ACP; Manal Alshehri, Vice President of Passenger Sales at SAUDIA; Fahad Almuhaysin, SAUDIA Country Manager – UK; Hesham Bindkhail, SAUDIA Europe Regional Manager along with members of SAUDIA and Birmingham Airport’s crew and team. 

SAUDIA will operate 3 weekly flights between Jeddah and Birmingham, and will further utilize the airline’s extensive fleet, catering to guests with a range of convenient check-in methods, high-quality onboard services, and a comfortable flight experience that underlines the flag carrier’s commitment to excellence. 

About Saudi Arabian Airlines (SAUDIA):  

Saudi Arabian Airlines (SAUDIA) is the national flag carrier of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Established in 1945, the company is one of the Middle East’s largest airlines. 

SAUDIA is a member of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the Arab Air Carriers Organization (AACO). It has been one of the 19 member airlines of the SkyTeam alliance since 2012.  

SAUDIA has received many prestigious industry awards and recognitions. Most recently, it was ranked a Global Five-Star Major Airline by the Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX), and the carrier was awarded the Diamond status by APEX Health Safety.

For further information on Saudi Arabian Airlines, please visit www.saudia.com. 
Media Office:  
Saudi Arabian Airlines Headquarters  
Jeddah 21231, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 
Email: [email protected] 

About the Air Connectivity Program
The Saudi Air Connectivity Program (ACP) was established in 2021 to support 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.
 

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: Working to increase air connectivity between Saudi Arabia and North Africa, the Air Connectivity Program (ACP) and flynas, Saudi Arabia's national airline and the leading low-cost carrier, have jointly announced the launch of direct flights between Jeddah and Casablanca.

Following the inaugural flight on August 3rd, flynas will operate three weekly flights between King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah and Mohammed V International Airport in Casablanca, on Thursdays, Saturdays, and Tuesdays.

This route launch marks the 10th international air route introduced by the Kingdom in 2023 and comes as a result of ongoing discussions between the Kingdom’s air connectivity facilitator, ACP, and industry partners. 

Building on their shared goal to facilitate travel to the Kingdom, ACP and flynas have strengthened their collaboration through an agreement signed back in April, with a focus on launching five new international destinations in Central Asia – a key priority market for enhancing the Kingdom's air connectivity.

ACP’s work supports Vision 2030’s goal of expanding international access to Saudi Arabia, enabling a robust inbound tourism market and achieving 100 million annual tourist visits by 2030.

“The collaboration between ACP and flynas stands as a testament that air connectivity can serve as a key enabler of Saudi Arabia’s economic growth and development. We are looking forward to supporting, enabling, and partnering with any global entity that is committed to enhancing the quality and frequency of air travel to and from the Kingdom, all while ensuring a warm and welcoming passenger experience every step of the journey,” said Ali Rajab, CEO of ACP. 

As a valuable air travel partner in Saudi Arabia, flynas operates an extensive network that spans over 70 domestic and international destinations, with a frequency of 1,500 weekly flights.

“The launch of this new route reflects our commitment to expanding the Saudi air travel sector and providing affordable travel options to and from key international aviation destinations,” said flynas CEO and Managing Director Bander Al-Mohanna. 

“Working alongside ACP and other ecosystem partners, we aim to further expand our reach by serving a total of 165 domestic and international destinations, aligning with the objectives of Vision 2030, and contributing to the increased air connectivity within the Kingdom.”

The launch of the new Jeddah-Casablanca route signifies deepening collaboration between Saudi Arabia and Morocco and follows the inauguration of the Saudi-Moroccan Economic Forum and Business Council in October 2022, which serves to enhance economic relations and raise the volume of trade between the two countries to $5 billion a year. 

Looking ahead, ACP has outlined further ambitions to broaden Saudi Arabia’s aviation network, indicating earlier this year the upcoming launch of additional routes between the Kingdom and key international destinations in the second half of 2023 and the first half of 2024.

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.
 

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: As part of an ongoing effort to deepen ties between China and Arab partners, Riyadh and Beijing are stepping up efforts to improve air connectivity between these fast-developing economies. At the recently held Arab-China Business Conference in Riyadh, attendees from China and the Arab world explored new avenues for collaboration to unlock the potential of shared business between these exciting markets, particularly also in air connectivity. 

Celebrating its 10th year, the conference brought together leading government officials, CEOs, entrepreneurs, and investors. Establishing stronger air links to foster tourism growth and unlock new opportunities was a hot-button topic at the event, with ACP’s booth forming part of the Ministry of Tourism’s efforts to draw attraction to the high-potential travel and tourism industries in the Kingdom. 

"In line with Vision 2030 and the ambitions of the National Tourism Strategy, ACP is bridging the stakeholder ecosystem to establish Saudi Arabia as a leading global tourism destination. Chinese visitors will, indeed, play a key role in achieving this ambition,” said Ali Rajab CEO of ACP. 

He added, “By ensuring that our customer service and operational readiness meet the high standards that Chinese visitors expect, ACP is creating a seamless travel experience between China and the Kingdom. For these travelers, like all others to Saudi Arabia, we prioritize cultural understanding and the highest levels of quality assurance.”

Saudi Arabia’s travel and tourism leaders, including stakeholders such as ACP, are actively working to turn the Kingdom into a sought-after air connectivity destination. In the past year, the Kingdom saw 23 new routes connected to Saudi Arabia from three continents, resulting in an expansion of seat capacity by 700,000. Likewise, several partnerships have been established with government bodies within the Kingdom, as well as international collaborations with both national and foreign airlines to boost air connectivity in Saudi Arabia. As part of these efforts, in 2023, a further 17 new routes will be added, and seat capacity will be expanded to 730,000 for priority markets.  

Saudi Arabia’s central geographic location and diversifying economy are expected to attract continued interest from Chinese businesses after the Arab-China Business Conference. The prospect of enhanced air connectivity between the Kingdom and China will be an added advantage for future relations between the two countries.

Air Connectivity Program (ACP) was established in 2021 to support tourism growth in the Kingdom by enhancing air connectivity and developing existing and prospective air routes that link Saudi Arabia with the rest of the world. As an executive enabler of the National Tourism Strategy and the National Aviation Strategy, ACP promotes collaboration and engagement between key public and private sector players in tourism and aviation industries to establish Saudi Arabia as a global leader in tourism air connectivity.

Media Contact
Mohsen Abduljawwad
Head of Brand and Communication, ACP
[email protected]
+966556633751 
 

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: flynas, the national airline of Saudi Arabia and the leading low-cost airline in the Middle East, has signed an agreement with Saudi Arabia's Air Connectivity Program (ACP) to launch five new international destinations. The destinations include the capitals of Iraq, Nigeria, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan, as well as the second largest city in Kyrgyzstan. 

This collaboration aims to facilitate the arrival of visitors, pilgrims, and Umrah performers to the Kingdom. Under the agreement, flynas will operate direct flights to Abuja, the Nigerian capital, from Jeddah, and direct flights between Baghdad, the Iraqi capital, and King Abdulaziz Airport in Jeddah, as well as Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah. 

Three other destinations in Central Asia will be launched, including direct flights from Jeddah to Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, and Osh, the second largest city in the country. The fifth new direct flight will operate between Jeddah and Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan.

During the signing ceremony, Bander Al-Mohanna, flynas CEO and Managing Director, stated: "The new agreement strengthens the partnership between flynas and the Air Connectivity Program, and supports the company's growth and expansion strategy launched under the slogan ‘Connecting the World to the Kingdom’, which aims to reach 165 destinations."

Al-Mohanna emphasized that connecting direct flights with these five new cities distributed between Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia, will enhance flynas' ability to serve pilgrims and Umrah performers, and will open new horizons for tourism, trade exchange, and economic opportunities. It will also contribute to achieving the objectives of the Air Connectivity Program by establishing new routes domestically and internationally. 

“The partnership between flynas and the Air Connectivity Program marks a significant milestone in the ecosystem’s efforts to facilitate travel to the Kingdom,” said Ali Rajab, CEO of ACP. ‘’By enabling direct air connectivity to these five new international destinations, we create opportunities for airlines operating in the Kingdom, and for the tourism industry as a whole.

This collaboration is a testament to the shared commitment of all stakeholders to work together to enhance air connectivity, enrich the visitor experience, and create opportunities for tourism growth in Saudi Arabia. At ACP, we look forward to continuing this successful partnership with flynas and our valued stakeholders in the ecosystem,” Ali Rajab added.

This agreement follows last August’s signing of the first agreement between flynas and the Air Connectivity Program to launch four new direct routes to cities in Europe, North Africa, and Central Asia, including Marseille, Almaty, Algiers and Casablanca. 

flynas currently connects more than 70 domestic and international destinations and has carried more than 60 million passengers since its establishment in 2007.

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.