Saudia recently introduced its inaugural direct flight to Beijing, China, marking a significant stride in the airline's efforts to enhance connections with China in line with its strategy to bolster tourism from Asian regions.
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Saudi AirlinesSaudia recently introduced its inaugural direct flight to Beijing, China, marking a significant stride in the airline’s efforts to enhance connections with China in line with its strategy to bolster tourism from Asian regions.
The maiden Saudia flight, SV0886, embarked on its journey from Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport to Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX) on August 4th. At PKX, the plane was greeted with a water salute, and passengers received warm welcomes with floral arrangements and gifts.
Starting from August 7th, Saudia has initiated a schedule of four weekly flights to Beijing from both Jeddah and Riyadh, utilizing a Boeing 787 aircraft with 24 business class seats and 274 economy class seats.
The flight from Jeddah to Beijing departs on Fridays and Mondays at 00:15, arriving in Beijing at 16:50. The return journey from Beijing leaves at 23:45 and reaches Jeddah at 05:40. The one-way fare is USD 1,008.
For the Riyadh-Beijing route, departures take place on Sundays and Wednesdays at 02:20, touching down in Beijing at 16:50. The return flight departs Beijing at 23:45 and lands in Riyadh at 04:45. The single fare is USD 1,050.
Engr. Ibrahim Al-Omar, the Director General of Saudia Group, expressed his pride in expanding the airline’s services to encompass new destinations. He emphasized the strategic importance of China as a route, and these new direct flights between Riyadh, Jeddah, and Beijing are poised to contribute to tourism growth, bolster travel and trade, and cultivate stronger bilateral relations.
The Saudi Vision 2030 initiative places significant emphasis on tourism, with China ranking high among the leading sources of global tourists. This fresh route is a notable stride towards realizing Saudi Arabia’s ambitious economic diversification goals, particularly in attracting more Chinese tourists to the country.
The airline’s Director General extended gratitude to the Air Connectivity Programme for its ongoing support, which facilitates Saudia’s expansion efforts and aligns with their mission of showcasing Saudi Arabia to the world.
Alhasan Aldabbagh, President of APAC Markets at the Saudi Tourism Authority, highlighted the momentous expansion to Beijing under Saudia’s “Wings of Connection” initiative. This expansion is expected to play a pivotal role in welcoming over 4 million Chinese visitors to Saudi Arabia by 2030, fueled by the visionary Saudi Vision 2030 plan.
