Jeddah: Saudia, Saudi Arabia's national flag carrier, celebrated the 35th anniversary of its inaugural flight connecting Saudi Arabia and Washington. To mark this significant milestone, guests departing from Washington Dulles International Airport were presented with commemorative keepsakes, and special announcements were made onboard to recognize and celebrate the historic occasion.
As part of the airport celebration, Hisham Khalifa, Lead Agent for Customer Services, who had been present during Saudia's first flight to Washington, was honored with a Certificate of Appreciation by Khaled Alehedeb, Regional Saudia Manager for North & South America.
Mr. Alehedeb expressed, "It is very fitting that we recognize an employee who has been with us for 35 years on a day when we celebrate the very first flight to land in this great city, 35 years ago. This is a testament to Saudia’s commitment to its customers as well as its employees."
Since the launch of flights to Washington in 1988, Saudia's air connectivity has played a crucial role in strengthening ties between Saudi Arabia and the United States, fostering key sectors such as business, tourism, and finance. Moreover, Saudia has extended its services to offer an exceptional travel experience for students studying abroad in Washington and their families, as well as for Hajj and Umrah pilgrims from the Muslim community in the region.
In the year 2023 alone, Saudia served more than 152,800 passengers on 665 flights connecting the Kingdom and Washington. The current flight schedule includes 14 weekly flights, comprising eight flights to and from Jeddah and six flights to and from Riyadh. All these flights are operated by Saudia's Boeing 777, featuring fully enclosed first-class suites to enhance the overall travel experience.
