Airline from new BRICS member state heads to SA. Image: Unsplash
Airline from new BRICS member heads to SA
Flights between South Africa and the newly invited BRICS member state Saudi Arabia, will start up in December.
Airline from new BRICS member state heads to SA. Image: Unsplash
Saudia Arabia’s national airline Saudia will start flying between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and South Africa in the next three months.
Saudia, formerly known as Saudi Arabian Airlines has its hub at King Abdulaziz Airport in Jeddah, Saudia Arabia. The airline is a member of the Skyteam Airline Alliance.
The airline is no stranger to South Africa. It operated flights to Johannesburg until April 2020, when flights were suspended due to travel restrictions imposed to limit the spread of the Covid-19 virus.
SAUDI ARABIA
Saudia has announced that it will return to South Africa before the end of the year. The airline has opened up reservations for flights operating on its Jeddah to Johannesburg services.
Flights to South Africa are scheduled to start on 1 December, following a three-and-a-half-year hiatus.
Saudia will operate four weekly scheduled flights between Johannesburg and Jeddah. These flights will be operated with a Boeing 787-900 series aircraft.
BRICS COUNTRIES
At the recent BRICS summit held in Johannesburg late last month, 6 additional countries were invited to join the bloc. Membership for the six new states will take effect on 1 January 2024.
The countries invited to join BRICS include United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Argentina.
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CONNECTING MEMBERS
There is a need for improved flight connections and more aviation services between BRICS countries.
Due to the great distances between BRICS member states aviation is key to developing and growing cooperation between member states.
BRICS members have committed to expanding aviation interests between member states in order to strengthen ties and boost economic development.
Travel News reports that the new Saudia routes will be the only non-stop flights available between Saudi Arabia and South Africa.
Saudia Arabia has also made visits to the Kingdom easier with the launch of e-visas for a number of nationalities, including South Africans.
