Saudia, the national flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, has taken a significant stride in international aviation by introducing new direct flights connecting Riyadh and Jeddah with Beijing, according to a report by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) on Sunday.
This development was made possible through a collaborative effort with the Air Connectivity Program (ACP), which signifies the strong commitment of both Saudi Arabia and China to deepen their cooperation in various sectors, SPA stated.
The inaugural flight from Jeddah to Beijing successfully took place on August 4, 2023, followed by the direct flight from Riyadh to Beijing on August 6, 2023, marking a momentous occasion for the airline and its passengers.
With these new air routes, approximately 165 million people residing in northern China now have convenient access to the Kingdom, opening up opportunities for increased mutual tourism and fostering greater international collaboration between Saudi Arabia and global aviation markets, SPA emphasized.
The role of the Air Connectivity Program (ACP) as the Kingdom’s air connectivity facilitator has been instrumental in the launch of these new routes. SPA highlighted that this move aligns with Saudi Arabia’s vision of enhancing progress in its travel and aviation sectors.
Ali Rajab, CEO of ACP, expressed his excitement about the launch of the new route and described it as an essential milestone in their ongoing efforts to expand air connectivity. He anticipates that more routes to and from the Kingdom will be introduced in the latter half of 2023 and the first half of 2024, further bolstering the aviation network and improving international accessibility.
The efforts to enhance air connectivity have already borne fruit, as Saudi Arabia’s global air connectivity ranking has significantly improved, rising from 27th place in 2019 to 13th in 2022, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), as noted by SPA.
Capt. Ibrahim Koshy, the CEO of SAUDIA, expressed the airline’s dedication to expanding its network and contributing to the 250 destinations outlined in the Saudi National Aviation strategy. He acknowledged the crucial role of partnerships like the one with ACP in achieving this goal. Thanks to such collaborations, SAUDIA has successfully launched routes to destinations like Birmingham, UK, and Zurich, Switzerland, effectively connecting the world to Saudi Arabia, he added.