Riyadh: National airline Saudi Airlines (Saudia) is changing its service operations at Riyadh King Khalid International Airport. Saudia is giving way to Riyadh Air, which is newly launched under the Saudi Public Investment Fund. Instead, Jeddah King Abdulaziz International Airport will be the main hub and the service operation will be centered there.
Currently, Saudi Airlines operates from two cities in the country, Riyadh and Jeddah, and the shares of Saudia will be transferred to Riyadh Air, which will start operations in 2025, Civil Aviation Authority Infrastructure and Strategy Vice President Mohammad Al-Khurasi told Bloomberg News in an interview. We do not want two large national companies operating from the same centre. Alqurasi also said that Riyadh Air will simultaneously acquire the shares of Saudi Airlines to ensure that capacity size and connectivity to the Saudi capital are not affected.
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Saudi Airlines will expand operations to Madinah. It is one of the holiest Islamic cities. It is also an important place for religious tourism. Madinah Airport is undergoing an expansion process that will double its capacity to 1.7 crore passengers. Saudi Airlines will redirect to focus on pilgrims. But Riyadh Air will target tourists. Alqurasi also said that Riyadh Air will compete with the big Gulf airlines in the field of air transport.
