Arab News, Thu, May 16, 2024 | Dhu al-Qadah 8, 1445
British Airways to resume Jeddah operations, enhancing UK-Saudi connectivity
Saudi Arabia:
British Airways is set to resume operations in Jeddah after a five-year hiatus,
aiming to enhance connectivity to the Kingdom, the airline said.
Announced at the GREAT Futures Initiative
Conference held in Riyadh, the route is scheduled to commence on Nov. 4,
offering year-round service to the Saudi city from London Heathrow, according to
a press release.
The new service, operated by the Boeing 787 fleet,
will total four flights per week, and sit alongside the daily operations between
Riyadh and Heathrow.
Speaking at the event, Colm Lacy, British Airways’
chief commercial officer, said: “We have a long history of connecting families,
friends and businesses in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with our home in London.”
He added: “There are significant opportunities for
businesses in both countries, so we’re pleased we can re-build our connectivity
and strengthen links between the two kingdoms.”
In a joint statement, Mazen Johar, CEO of Jeddah
Airports, and Majid Khan, CEO of Saudi Air Connectivity Program, said: “The
return of the UK’s flag carrier to Jeddah, with new flights from London
Heathrow, will further strengthen our air connectivity from the capital.”
They added: "With British Airways’ leading network
in the UK, Europe, and onwards to North America, travelers can experience an
untouched wonder, Saudi Arabia, through one of the leading global carriers,
further supporting our growing inbound tourism and aviation market.”
Earlier this week, the Kingdom’s General Authority
of Civil Aviation released a statement revealing that an ambitious roadmap
outlining Saudi Arabia’s tenfold growth in the aviation sector into a $2 billion
industry is on track to be unveiled at the Future Aviation Forum in May.
The plans encompass the business jet segment,
including charter, private, and corporate aircraft, and aim to bolster Saudi
Arabia’s development as a global high-value enterprise and tourist destination,
the statement noted at the time.
It also highlighted that the plan comes after
Saudi Arabia revised its 2030 tourism target upward from 100 million to 150
million visitors in October 2023.
Also earlier this week, the Kingdom’s Minister of
Commerce announced that partnerships between Saudi Arabia and the UK encompass
over 60 initiatives across 13 sectors, with trade between the countries up by a
third since 2018.
During the opening remarks of the GREAT Futures
Initiative Conference, Majid Al-Qasabi noted that bilateral trade surged between
2018 and 2023, exceeding £79 billion ($99.12 billion).
With over 1,100 active licenses for UK investors,
developments such as the giga-projects in the Kingdom and policy reforms are
enhancing business opportunities, the minister emphasized.