British Airways Resumes Operations in Jeddah After Five-Year Break
In a move to boost connectivity to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, British Airways has announced the resumption of operations in Jeddah after a five-year hiatus.
Revealed at the GREAT Futures Initiative Conference in Riyadh, the airline is set to launch the route on Nov. 4, providing year-round service from London Heathrow to Jeddah.
The new service will be operated by the Boeing 787 fleet, offering four weekly flights to Jeddah, in addition to the daily operations between Riyadh and Heathrow.
Colm Lacy, British Airways’ chief commercial officer, expressed enthusiasm about rebuilding connectivity between the two countries, stating, “There are significant opportunities for businesses in both countries.”
Mazen Johar, CEO of Jeddah Airports, and Majid Khan, CEO of Saudi Air Connectivity Program, emphasized the impact of British Airways’ return to Jeddah, highlighting the airline’s extensive network and its potential to boost inbound tourism and aviation market.
Saudi Arabia’s Ambitious Aviation Growth Plan
The General Authority of Civil Aviation in Saudi Arabia is on track to unveil an ambitious roadmap at the Future Aviation Forum in May, aiming to propel the country’s aviation sector into a $2 billion industry.
The plan includes initiatives to enhance the business jet segment and elevate Saudi Arabia as a global high-value enterprise and tourist destination, aligning with the country’s revised tourism target of attracting 150 million visitors by October 2023.
Strong UK-Saudi Arabia Partnerships Fuel Trade Growth
Minister of Commerce Majid Al-Qasabi highlighted the flourishing partnerships between Saudi Arabia and the UK, with over 60 initiatives across 13 sectors driving trade growth.
Bilateral trade between the two countries has surged, surpassing £79 billion ($99.12 billion) and attracting over 1,100 active licenses for UK investors, fueled by developments such as giga-projects in the Kingdom and policy reforms.