Saudi Arabia intends to establish a new airline in Riyadh, connecting the Kingdom with Africa, in a bid to promote investment within the country, according to a report by Forbes Middle East on Sunday.
The necessary licenses and regulatory approvals have already been obtained by Saudi authorities in collaboration with the African Civil Aviation Commission, as stated in the SRMG-owned Saudi newspaper Al Eqtisadiah Arabic.
While specific details such as the launch date, routes, investment opportunities, operational framework, and trade name are yet to be determined, the new airline aims to revive a carrier that had been operational in the Kingdom since 2016.
The airline had ceased operations in 2021 due to economic challenges.
The newly established company will assume the responsibility of relaunching this airline, in addition to operating multiple routes between Saudi cities and various African nations.
By offering both direct and stopover flights, the new airline plans to serve an estimated 385 million passengers traveling between Saudi Arabia and Africa by 2030.
It also aims to facilitate travel during seasonal, regional, and religious events such as Hajj and Umrah.
This strategic move aligns with Saudi Arabia’s broader objectives of boosting tourism and investment, both domestically and across the African continent.
Five years ago, the Kingdom announced the National Tourism Strategy 2030, a comprehensive plan aimed at attracting foreign direct investment and increasing the tourism sector’s contribution to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) to around 10%.
The plan also set a target of creating 1.6 million jobs by 2030. In pursuit of these goals, Saudi Arabia has embarked on an ambitious initiative to launch multiple airlines, ushering in a new era of connectivity and fostering mutual collaboration.
Recently, on April 16, Saudi Airlines and China Southern Airlines celebrated the inauguration of the first direct route between mainland China and Saudi Arabia. The new route aims to bolster economic, trade, and cultural cooperation between the two countries.
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