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The new airline is expected to carry people between nations within the region like Emirates, Qatar Airways
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Saudi airlines mostly operate domestic services and point-to-point flights
Saudi Arabia is planning to launch a new national airline to target international flyers, said reports on Saturday, July 3.
The move is aimed at taking on regional carriers like Dubai’s Emirates and Qatar Airways, said the reports.
The new airline is expected to boost international routes and emulate existing Gulf carriers by carrying people between nations within the region.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Tuesday announced plans to launch this airline as part of a broader strategy to turn the kingdom into a global logistics hub as it seeks to diversify from oil.
The strategy marks a shift for Saudi Arabia whose other airlines, like state-owned Saudia and its low-cost subsidiary flyadeal, mostly operate domestic services and point-to-point flights to and from the oil-rich country of 35 million people.
This is especially significant because of the twin pincers of lower oil demand and a total ban on international Hajj pilgrims for two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic have severely impacted the kingdom’s economy.
