Europe’s Wizz Air considering a Saudi operating license

Following an agreement made with the government this year to promote the aviation sector in the Kingdom, the CEO of European airline Wizz Air announced that the firm is exploring opening an airline in Saudi Arabia.

As of early next year, the airline will start operating direct flights from 11 European cities, including Vienna, Milan, and Rome, to Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam.

“The scope of exploring opportunities in the country … may also include making direct investments,” the company’s chief executive, Joseph Faraday, told Reuters in Riyadh.

He added that this includes studying and applying for an air operator certificate in Saudi Arabia to establish an airline there, but he did not specify a date for a decision on that.

A Saudi license may allow a subsidiary or joint venture to operate internal services in the kingdom, which has a population of about 36 million.

It could also allow the company to operate international flights starting from Saudi Arabia, allowing access to new markets.