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SAUDIA, the national flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, recently officially launched its inaugural flight from King Fahd International Airport in Dammam to Beijing, the capital of the People’s Republic of China. The new route operates twice weekly in each direction as part of a connecting flight from King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah.
Saudia celebrated the inaugural flight from Dammam to Beijing with a special ribbon-cutting ceremony in the departure lounge. The event was attended by Wang Qimin, Consul General of the People’s Republic of China, Engr. Mohammed Al-Hassany, CEO of Dammam Airports Company (DACO), and Wail Basaffar, Assistant Vice President of KSA Sales at Saudia.
With this addition, Dammam becomes the third city from which Saudia operates flights to Beijing, following Jeddah and Riyadh. The total weekly capacity between the Kingdom and Beijing is approximately 1,310 seats on 4 flights, while the weekly capacity to Guangzhou is 1,966 seats on 6 flights. Saudia operates a Boeing B787 Dreamliner, which is known for its high operational efficiency and comfort, offering guests an elevated travel experience.
According to Eng. Mohammed bin Ali Al-Hassany, CEO of Dammam Airports Company, the launch of flights to The launch of flights to Beijing in partnership with Saudia reflects our commitment to diversify King Fahd International Airport’s international destinations to meet travelers’ needs and enhance their experience. This initiative is part of our international aviation development plan, which aims to attract new airlines and increase direct destinations, supporting economic and tourism growth in the Eastern Province.
“From January to September 2024, King Fahd International Airport achieved a remarkable growth of 16.2% in passenger traffic compared to 2023, and I commend the tremendous efforts of our team and partners who made this achievement possible,” he said.
Meanwhile, Wail Basaffar, Assistant Vice President of KSA Sales at Saudia, said this new route is a testament to Saudia’s innovative and flexible operating model, which leverages our main hub in Jeddah as a cornerstone of our strategic plan. We also utilize other key airports for connecting flights to meet growing demand and cater to all guest segments. Our modern and expanding fleet further enhances the travel experience and ensures that we not only meet but exceed our guests’ expectations.
Saudia remains committed to its role as a key player in promoting international travel and tourism, in line with its goal of bringing the world to the Kingdom. The airline has seen impressive growth in demand for flights between the Kingdom and China.
“Since the start of operations to Beijing, Saudia has transported more than 84.89 thousand guests on 482 flights. From January to September 2024, the airline transported 78.56 thousand guests between the Kingdom and Guangzhou, an increase of 19% compared to the same period in 2023, with 413 flights representing a 23% increase in capacity,” Wal Basaffar concluded. [source/photo special]
