Saudi Arabia’s Air Connectivity Program Targets New Airlines

Saudi Arabia’s Air Connectivity Program (ACP) is ambitiously seeking to attract 10 new airlines to the kingdom within the next 12 months, focusing on carriers from the U.S., Europe, and Asia. Achieving these goals is crucial for the country to meet its aviation ambitions of reaching 300 million air passengers and welcoming 150 million tourists by 2030, according to ACP CEO Majid Khan.

Khan emphasized the importance of securing new bilateral air transport agreements to facilitate this growth. “Currently, we are on track to reach 150 million tourists by 2030, but we need to develop enough capacity,” he explained. He noted the need for support from Saudi Arabia’s civil aviation authorities to overcome potential obstacles related to bilateral agreements.

The Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has been supportive, with several new air transport agreements signed in recent months. However, Khan pointed out challenges with securing agreements from countries such as France, Japan, Malaysia, and in Scandinavian markets. “Securing these agreements is crucial for unlocking new routes and ensuring seamless operations for our carriers,” he added.

The ACP has already surpassed its targets in 2024 by securing 22 new routes and attracting 12 international airlines. Notable new services include British Airways’ flights from London Heathrow to Jeddah, which commenced on November 4, and Transavia France’s upcoming routes from Paris Orly and Lyon to Jeddah, set to begin in December. Looking ahead, Virgin Atlantic is scheduled to enter the Saudi market in March, launching a route between London Heathrow and Riyadh.

Khan also highlighted the success in attracting Chinese airlines, with Air China, China Eastern Airlines, and China Southern Airlines now operating in Saudi Arabia. “We have attracted 300,000 additional seats from China compared to last year,” he noted. However, he stressed the need to reach a target of 5 million Chinese tourists by 2030, a number currently below 500,000.

In addition, the ACP is focused on establishing direct routes to underserved destinations, including Jakarta, Indonesia, and Atlanta, Georgia. The latter is particularly strategic due to its status as a hub for Delta Air Lines, a member of Saudia’s SkyTeam alliance, offering extensive connectivity across the U.S. market.

Khan also mentioned the planned launch of Wizz Air’s first Airbus A321XLR route in March, connecting London Gatwick to Jeddah, describing the A321XLR as a “game changer” that enables airlines to open routes previously considered unfeasible.

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