With the help of the Saudi Air Connectivity Program (ACP) and the Saudi Tourism Authority, the national flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, SAUDIA, has introduced four new foreign destinations: Beijing (PRC), Birmingham (UK), Kano (Nigeria), and Johannesburg (South Africa). The route development, which is part of a sizable growth plan for 2023, comes after the national carrier signed a contract with ACP and is consistent with the program's goal of boosting the Kingdom's point-to-point air connectivity and its access to certain foreign markets.
ACP aspires to encourage growth and development within the tourism and aviation sectors and to boost the Kingdom's status as a top worldwide tourist destination by working with airlines to increase their operations in Saudi Arabia.
According to Ali Rajab, CEO of ACP, "strong collaboration between the Saudi tourism and aviation ecosystems has resulted in the opening of four new air routes across three different regions." " We're honored to have contributed to these efforts. The Kingdom's rich cultural legacy is unlocked by these new routes, which provide a variety of travel options, inviting visitors from all over the world to enjoy the beauty and diversity of this extraordinary location.
"Air connections will become more and more crucial in fostering tourism expansion and opening up new prospects for both businesses and travelers. In order to open up new places and pave the way for a better future for the Kingdom, we look forward to capitalizing on this momentum, Ali Rajab continued.
The CEO of SAUDIA, Capt. Ibrahim Koshy, emphasized the airline's continuous dedication to investing in operational expansion. He declared, "We are committed to keeping our cutting-edge fleet optimized to satisfy both present and upcoming expansion requirements. "Your Ticket, Your Visa," the first service of its sort ever launched recently, has improved the airline's competitive position and given it a 40% market share for flights and seat capacity over the past year.
Koshy also stressed the significance of programs meant to boost SAUDIA's worldwide market share, streamline and make travel easier, and improve the traveling experience for visitors. These measures improve the Kingdom's existing Hajj and Umrah-related travel networks while also enhancing air connectivity and the nation's burgeoning tourism business.
By 2030, Saudi Arabia's tourist industry has set an ambitious aim of receiving 100 million visitors yearly, and a key component of accomplishing this objective is air connectivity. The strategy of the Saudi Tourism Authority is centered on analyzing customer demand and locating important source markets. As a result of increased demand from tourists seeking to visit or transit via Saudi Arabia from Beijing, Birmingham, Kano, and Johannesburg, several new direct airline routes have been established.
"Today's announcement of four new routes demonstrates the power of the tourism ecosystem to work with airline partners to bring new capacity online," continued Fahd Hamidaddin, CEO and Member of the Board of the Saudi Tourist Authority. We are working together across government to increase accessibility and connection as we work to make Saudi Arabia a top tourist destination and reach our ambitious goal of hosting 100 million visitors by 2030. This is essential because direct airline alternatives not only benefit international tourists but also spur economic development and foreign investment in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere.
"At MATARAT, we are working with our ecosystem partners and airlines to improve the airport experience for both air carriers and passengers in Saudi Arabia," said Eng. Mohammed Al Maghlouth, the CEO of MATARAT. Our primary goal is to provide top-notch services that adhere to the strictest international standards, enhancing everyone's travel experience. The launch of direct flights from Saudi airports to new foreign locations, as several airlines have indicated plans to do, is a major step forward in our efforts, according to Al Maghlouth. This strategic initiative supports the objectives of the National Aviation Strategy, a crucial part of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy, which aims to add 250 new international destinations and boost passenger capacity to 330 million in order to achieve the goals outlined in Saudi Vision 2030.
