Latest news with #airconnectivity
Arabian Business
4 days ago
- Business
- Arabian Business
New Saudi low-cost airline to launch from King Fahd International Airport
A consortium comprising Air Arabia, Nesma Group, and KUN Holding has won the General Authority of Civil Aviation's (GACA) competition to establish and operate a low-cost airline in Saudi Arabia. The carrier will be based at King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, and will enhance domestic and international air connectivity for the Eastern Province, the Emirates News Agency (WAM) said in a statement. The win represents the culmination of a vision and partnership among the three parties, focused on delivering an operating model that supports aviation programme goals, improves service quality for travellers, and contributes to driving economic growth. New Saudi airline plans 81 destinations with 45 aircraft by 2030 The low-cost carrier targets operating 24 domestic and 57 international destinations with 45 aircraft by 2030. The airline aims to serve around 10 million passengers annually from Dammam and the Eastern Province. Adel Al Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer of Air Arabia, said: 'We are proud to have been selected by the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) to launch a new national low-cost airline headquartered in Dammam. We extend our sincere gratitude to the authority for its trust in us. 'As a leading low-cost airline operator in the region, this achievement represents a key milestone that reaffirms our commitment to supporting the growth and development of the kingdom's aviation sector. Through our proven economic model and regional expertise, this new partnership will deliver a reliable and value-driven travel experience for passengers and will contribute to economic growth and job creation in the Eastern Province and beyond.' Faisal Bin Saleh Al-Turki, President of Nesma Group, and Mohamed Bin Nabil Hefni, CEO of KUN Holding, added: 'At Nesma and KUN, we are proud to be part of this ambitious national initiative, which is the result of a strategic partnership with Air Arabia Group. This initiative aligns with the impressive developments in the Kingdom's tourism and aviation sectors. Launching a new low-cost carrier from Dammam is not merely an air transport project, but a direct contribution to strengthening the tourism infrastructure and stimulating the local economy of the Eastern Province. This includes creating high-quality jobs, empowering national talent, and supporting aviation-related commercial activities. 'We believe this project reflects the private sector's role in supporting the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 and embodies the spirit of partnership between the public and private sectors to achieve transformative strides in sustainable development. We look forward to this carrier becoming a model of local and international collaboration, strengthening the Kingdom's position as a leading regional and global tourism destination.' The project is projected to create over 2,400 direct jobs in the aviation sector and will contribute to tourism growth and economic development in the region.
Emirates 24/7
4 days ago
- Business
- Emirates 24/7
Air Arabia, Nesma Group, KUN Holding consortium win bid to establish new low-cost carrier
A consortium comprising Air Arabia, Nesma Group, and KUN Holding announced that it has won the General Authority of Civil Aviation's (GACA) competition to establish and operate a new national low-cost airline, which will be based at King Fahd International Airport in Dammam. The airline aims to enhance domestic and international air connectivity for the Eastern Province. This win marks the culmination of a shared vision and strategic partnership among the three parties, focused on delivering an efficient operating model that supports the objectives of the Aviation program goals, improves service quality for travelers, and contributes to driving national economic growth. Adel Al Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer of Air Arabia, stated, 'We are proud to have been selected by the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) to launch a new national low-cost airline headquartered in Dammam. We extend our sincere gratitude to the Authority for its trust in us. As a leading low-cost airline operator in the region, this achievement represents a key milestone that reaffirms our commitment to supporting the growth and development of the Kingdom's aviation sector. Through our proven economic model and regional expertise, this new partnership will deliver a reliable and value-driven travel experience for passengers and will contribute to economic growth and job creation in the Eastern Province and beyond.' Faisal Bin Saleh Al-Turki, President of Nesma Group, and Mohamed Bin Nabil Hefni, CEO of KUN Holding, added, 'At Nesma and KUN, we are proud to be part of this ambitious national initiative, which is the result of a strategic partnership with Air Arabia Group. This initiative aligns with the impressive developments in the Kingdom's tourism and aviation sectors. Launching a new low-cost carrier from Dammam is not merely an air transport project, but a direct contribution to strengthening the tourism infrastructure and stimulating the local economy of the Eastern Province. This includes creating high-quality jobs, empowering national talent, and supporting aviation-related commercial activities. We believe this project reflects the private sector's role in supporting the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 and embodies the spirit of partnership between the public and private sectors to achieve transformative strides in sustainable development. We look forward to this carrier becoming a model of local and international collaboration, strengthening the Kingdom's position as a leading regional and global tourism destination.' The new national low-cost carrier is targeting to operate 24 domestic and 57 international destinations with 45 aircraft by 2030, aiming to serve around 10 million passengers annually from Dammam and the Eastern Province. The project is projected to create over 2,400 direct jobs in the aviation sector and significantly contribute to tourism growth and local economic development in the region.
The National
5 days ago
- Business
- The National
Air Arabia alliance wins bid to operate low-cost airline in Saudi Arabia
UAE carrier Air Arabia is part of an alliance that won the rights to operate a new low-cost airline in Saudi Arabia to boost air connectivity in the kingdom. The new consortium will operate the airline from the King Fahd International Airport in Dammam and provide competitive travel options for passengers, the Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) said in a social media post on X on Sunday. Egypt's Nesma and Jeddah-based Kun Investments Holding are part of the consortium that won the bid, according to the post. The airline is expected to enhance air connectivity in the eastern region. By 2030, the new Air Arabia alliance will operate 45 aircraft and will serve 24 domestic and 57 international destinations, the social media post said. It will also transport up to 10 million passengers annually and create 2,400 direct jobs by 2030. 'The establishment of a new low-cost airline in Dammam further builds Saudi Arabia's position as the world's biggest aviation growth story, with the proposals received reflecting strong global investment in Saudi aviation," Minister of Transport and Logistics Services Saleh Al Jasser said. "This award will drive further growth in support of Vision 2030 and the National Transport and Logistics Strategy.' The award follows a competitive tender process initiated by Saudi Arabia's GACA, involving proposals from international, regional and domestic airlines to establish a new Dammam-based national airline with majority Saudi ownership, the authority said. The new low cost airline aims to enhance aviation sector's competitiveness as well as expand travel options and increase passenger numbers, Abdulaziz Al Duailej, president of GACA, said in a separate post on X. It is also meant to support the growth of economy and tourism in the eastern region of the kingdom, he added. The tendering process for the airline had attracted other bidders. Kuwait's Jazeera Airways had also placed a bid to launch the low-cost airline from Dammam, its chief executive told The National in an interview last year. "We do believe we have the best credentials and have submitted the best plan but this is a tendering process so it can go either way," Barathan Pasupathi had said in September. Saudi Arabia, the Arab world's largest economy, aims to diversify its economy away from oil as part of Vision 2030 programme. The kingdom's plan is to become a travel hot spot, having invested $800 billion to develop the sector and set a revised target of attracting 150 million visitors by the end of the decade. In 2023, Saudi Arabia also announced the creation of a new national airline Riyadh Air, as the kingdom seeks to develop into a global transport and logistics hub, attract tourists and diversify its economy. Riyadh Air is fully owned by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund and is expected to begin its first commercial flight in the fourth quarter of this year. Competitive aviation market "Air Arabia would be stepping into a very competitive Saudi landscape," said Saj Ahmad, chief analyst at StrategicAero Research told The National. "With flynas, flyadeal, Saudi Airlines as well as Riyadh Air all competing for domestic, regional and international traffic, Air Arabia will have to carve out a niche to ensure success." However, Air Arabia has a "suite of regional hubs so there's a good chance it can use its regional footprint to augment its planned Saudi operations", he added. "Longer term, the evolving Saudi market will change and it'll be interesting to see if Air Arabia elects to spread beyond Dammam into more competitive cities like Jeddah and Riyadh and set up camp there." Expansion of Dammam airport Separately, Saudi Arabia on Sunday, also launched the Dammam Airports Strategy and a package of integrated development projects valued at more than 1.6 billion Saudi riyals ($427 million), including 77 infrastructure projects aimed at enhancing operational efficiency and improving the passenger experience. The strategic plan aims to accommodate more than 19.3 million passengers annually at King Fahd International Airport by 2030, doubling the number served in 2022, the Saudi Press Agency reported. It also seeks to significantly expand air cargo capacity to over 600,000 tonnes a year. Future developments include an expansion of the airport's operational capacity, increasing aircraft movements to 77 per hour and boosting annual passenger capacity to 32 million.
Al Arabiya
5 days ago
- Business
- Al Arabiya
New low-cost Saudi airline to operate from Dammam
The Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation announced on Sunday that an alliance consisting of Air Arabia, Kun Investment Holding and Nesma won a bid to operate a new low-cost Saudi national airline operating from the King Fahd International Airport in Dammam. The authority said in a post on X that the new airline aims to enhance 'air connectivity for the Eastern Region, increase seat capacity, and to provide competitive travel options for passengers.' The new airlines will also operate domestic and international flights with the capacity of 57 international destinations and 24 local destinations. It also aims to carry around 10 million passengers annually. Developing
Al Bawaba
11-07-2025
- Business
- Al Bawaba
Sharjah Airport and Air Arabia Celebrate the Resumption of Direct Flights to Damascus
As part of its ongoing commitment to expanding its network and strengthening air connectivity with brotherly nations, Sharjah Airport has announced the resumption of direct flights to the Syrian capital, Damascus, operated by Air Arabia. The route will operate twice daily between Sharjah Airport and Damascus International Airport, marking the return of this vital connection after a years-long inaugural flight was launched in a welcoming ceremony attended by His Excellency Ali Salim Al Midfa, Chairman of Sharjah Airport Authority (SAA); Dr. Ziad Yahya Zahreddine, Consul General of the Syrian Arab Republic in the UAE; H.E. Adel Al Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer of Air Arabia; along with a number of officials and directors from SAA, representatives from airport-based entities, the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority, and the Sharjah Department of Government Air Connectivity and Facilitating Travel for All Passenger SegmentsH.E. Ali Salim Al Midfa, Chairman of Sharjah Airport Authority, stated that the resumption of direct flights between Sharjah and Damascus marks a significant milestone in the airport's strategic expansion journey. It underscores the SAA's steadfast commitment to enhancing air connectivity and facilitating travel for various segments of passengers.'This step reflects our ongoing efforts to position Sharjah Airport as a leading travel gateway, while contributing to the growth of economic and tourism exchanges between the UAE and Syria,' he added, 'At Sharjah Airport Authority, we continue to implement our comprehensive vision focused on improving the quality of services offered to passengers. Backed by advanced infrastructure and a skilled workforce, we aim to ensure a seamless and safe travel experience. Through our continued collaboration with strategic partners, we are consistently working to attract new destinations and provide an operational environment that adheres to the highest international standards — reinforcing Sharjah's growing reputation as a leading regional and international aviation hub.'Flexible and Comfortable Travel Options to Support Passenger MobilityThis decision comes in response to the increasing demand for travel between the UAE and Syria and highlights Sharjah Airport's pivotal role in fostering social and economic ties between the two countries. The resumption of this route offers passengers greater flexibility and comfort, facilitating easier mobility and enabling them to stay connected with their families and loved the Latest Technological Solutions to Ensure Optimal Operational Efficiency Sharjah Airport Authority continues to strengthen its efforts to attract more regional and international airlines and expand its network of strategic partnerships to launch new routes in line with the rapid growth in travel demand. These efforts are supported by the adoption of cutting-edge technological solutions that ensure the highest levels of operational efficiency, along with the development of innovative services aimed at enhancing the overall experience for passengers and stakeholders.
