China Southern Airlines to Expand Its Wings in Saudi Arabia with New Shenzhen-Riyadh Route

China Southern Airlines is poised to further cement its footprint in the Middle East by introducing a new service to Saudi Arabia during the summer 2024 season. This move comes on the heels of the airline’s announcement to commence its inaugural nonstop flights from Beijing Daxing to Riyadh on April 16, marking a significant expansion of its network into the kingdom.

The new route will connect Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport with Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport starting June 3, offering passengers twice-weekly services aboard the Airbus A330-300. This route, spanning 4,199 miles, will be exclusively operated by China Southern, making it the only airline to offer direct flights between these two cities, as per OAG Schedules Analyser data.

This development is part of a broader strategy by China Southern Airlines, alongside other Chinese carriers like Air China, China Eastern Airlines, and Xiamen Airlines, to establish a regular presence in Saudi Arabia beyond the previously offered limited-time flights catering mainly to religious travel demands.

The announcement of China Southern’s Shenzhen-Riyadh route follows closely after China Eastern Airlines introduced its own service to Riyadh from Shanghai Pudong, set to begin on April 8. This route will also feature three weekly flights, utilizing the A330-200 aircraft, and underscores the growing aviation ties between China and Saudi Arabia.

Both new routes by China Southern to Riyadh are supported by the Saudi Air Connectivity Program, an initiative aimed at boosting air connectivity to underserved markets and positioning China among the top three source markets for Saudi Arabian tourism by 2030.

Currently, Saudia dominates the direct air travel market between Saudi Arabia and China, operating a total of four routes. This includes services from Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport and Riyadh to Guangzhou, as well as recent additions to Beijing Daxing, enhancing the connectivity options between the two countries.

The expansion of China Southern Airlines into Saudi Arabia reflects the airline’s ambition to tap into the growing travel demand between China and the Middle East, leveraging the strategic importance of Saudi Arabia as a key destination. With preliminary figures indicating a sustained interest in travel between the two regions, China Southern’s new routes are set to play a crucial role in fostering stronger bilateral ties and promoting tourism and economic exchange.