Riyadh – Mubasher: National flag carrier Saudi Arabian Airlines (SAUDIA) has teamed up with Red Sea Global and daa International to become the first airline that operates from and to the Red Sea International Airport, which is located in Tabuk’s Hanak in Saudi Arabia.
This news comes as a result of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed on 12 September between Red Sea Global (RSG), SAUDIA, and daa International, the operator of Red Sea International (RSI) airport.
The under-construction airport is scheduled to open in 2023, initially for domestic flights to and from Riyadh and later Jeddah. This step is before expanding to handle international flights as of 2024, according to a press release.
Meanwhile, the agreement builds on daa International’s current collaboration with RSG as the operator of its international airport.
daa International will continue to manage the airport while joining SAUDIA on various activities including the allocation of airport gates and counters.
Group CEO of Red Sea Global, John Pagano, said: “When the first commercial flight lands at Red Sea International, it won’t just be a point of personal pride for Red Sea Global. It will be a milestone moment for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in making that vision a reality. It is fitting, therefore, that the Kingdom’s flag carrier, SAUDIA, will be first to operate from our destination.”
It is worth noting that in 2016, Prince Mohammed bin Salman set out a vision for Saudi to be a global hub where people from all around the world would come to experience the best of Saudi culture, hospitality, and nature, as described by Pagano.
CEO of SAUDIA, Ibrahim Koshy, said: “This agreement will strengthen our position in the Kingdom and allow us to collaborate with RSG and daa International to boost tourism and enhance the country’s standing within international aviation.”
On the other hand, three resorts at The Red Sea will open in 2023 along with the first phase of the Red Sea International airport. In addition, a total of 13 hotels will open as part of phase I while upon full completion in 2030, the destination will comprise 50 resorts with up to 8,000 hotel rooms and over 1,000 residential properties across 22 islands and six inland sites.
CEO of daa International, Nicholas Cole, said: “Red Sea International is a new gateway for travelers to experience the wonders of Saudi Arabia. Bringing our unmatched airport management expertise, we will work with RSG and SAUDIA to ensure RSI delivers a truly unique experience for all who pass through it.”
