Wizz Air is to launch 20 new routes to Saudi Arabia from 11 European cities as a part of plans to ramp up its operations within the kingdom.
The community growth comes lower than 4 months after the ULCC signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Saudi funding ministry to discover airline market improvement alternatives within the nation.
In June, the airline confirmed that its first routes to Saudi Arabia would begin in September, connecting Dammam (DMM) with Rome Fiumicino (FCO) and Vienna (VIE). A Dammam-Abu Dhabi (AUH) route may even begin in November.
The most recent community growth will see Wizz open new routes to Saudi from Bucharest (OTP), Budapest (BUD), Catania (CTA), Larnaca (LCA), Milan Malpensa (MXP), Naples (NAP), Rome Fiumicino (FCO), Sofia (SOF), Tirana (TIA), Venice (VCE) and Vienna.
“Saudi Arabia is among the most fun international locations on this planet for aviation portraying an eclectic mixture of journey alternatives with unmissable locations, numerous thrilling sights, and a thriving cultural scene,” Wizz CEO Jozsef Varadi stated.
“I see the dominion as a long-term strategic marketplace for Wizz Air the place we are going to proceed to innovate and carry the flag of low-cost flying for the good thing about Saudi residents and guests in addition to the nation’s diversifying financial system.”
Saudi Arabia sees the expansion of its aviation trade as an integral part of the Saudi Imaginative and prescient 2030, a strategic framework to cut back the nation’s dependence on oil and diversify its financial system.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman believes the dominion has the potential to develop into world aviation hub with investments of $100 billion by the 12 months 2030. A brand new mega airport in Riyadh has been proposed, along with eight different airports distributed throughout the nation.
The Saudi Air Connectivity Program was additionally launched earlier this 12 months to help the institution of latest worldwide routes and improve the variety of direct worldwide locations to 250 by 2030.
“We’re happy to have been in a position to work with Wizz Air to develop its community to Saudi Arabia; the introduced routes are a testomony to the sturdy site visitors potential that the dominion has to supply,” stated Khalil Lamrabet, CEO of the Air Connectivity Program.
Of the 20 new routes being launched, evaluation of OAG Schedules Analyser information reveals that seven are presently served nonstop. In the course of the week commencing Aug. 25, Saudia operates to Milan Malpensa, Rome Fiumicino and Vienna from each Jeddah and Riyadh, whereas Flynas serves Riyadh-Vienna.
Fahd Hamidaddin, CEO of the Saudi Tourism Authority, stated: “At the moment’s announcement of 20 new routes to Saudi is among the largest such bulletins wherever on this planet. It’s a actual first for Wizz Air and for Saudi and opens a brand new and reasonably priced gateway for guests from Europe that can permit everybody to come back and discover the world’s most fun new vacation spot.”