The Saudi Air Connectivity Program is meeting with major international transport companies at the Routes World 2024 in Manama, Bahrain.
The goal is to attract these companies to the local market, boosting air routes to 250 destinations and aiming to welcome 150 million visitors by 2030.
The program is participating in the three-day event to highlight services and opportunities for improving air connectivity with Saudi Arabia and reaching international markets.
The Saudi Air Connectivity Program has scheduled over 100 meetings at Routes World 2024 with global aviation leaders to discuss partnerships and showcase Saudi Arabia's strategic location as it seeks to expand international air routes.
Rashed Al-Shammari, the program’s Executive Vice President of Commercial Affairs, shared that discussions took place with airlines from Europe, including Switzerland, Germany, and the UK, as well as companies from China.
They explored opportunities for launching new direct flights to Saudi Arabia.
Adding New Seats
Al-Shammari highlighted that the program met with airline decision-makers to present opportunities for both currently served routes, which aim to expand flights, and underserved routes needing additional flights and seats.
He confirmed that interested companies expressed a desire to enter the Saudi market, but attracting them may take six months to five years, depending on factors like distance, aircraft availability, and profitability, especially following the COVID-19 crisis’s impact on the aviation industry.
Looking forward, Al-Shammari announced that follow-up meetings would focus on persuading airlines to establish new routes to underserved markets or enhance existing services.
Strengthening Partnerships
The program invites interested parties to visit its booth at Routes World 2024, where aviation leaders can learn about opportunities available across Saudi Arabia's 29 airports.
Launched in 2021, the Saudi Air Connectivity Program aims to boost tourism by improving air links between Saudi Arabia and the world through developing existing and new routes.
It works as the executive enabler of the National Tourism Strategy and the National Aviation Strategy to foster collaboration between public and private sectors in tourism and aviation, enhancing Saudi Arabia’s position as a leading global destination.
