flynas partners with the Air Connectivity Program to launch direct flights to 5 international destinations

• Direct flights from Jeddah to Abuja, Bishkek, Osh, Baghdad and Tashkent
• A collaboration that provides tourists, Hajj pilgrims, and Umrah performers with easier access to the Kingdom, while stimulating tourism growth

Riyadh, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 12 April 2023:

flynas, the national airline of Saudi Arabia and the leading low-cost airline in the Middle East, has signed an agreement with Saudi Arabia’s Air Connectivity Program (ACP) to launch five new international destinations. The destinations include the capitals of Iraq, Nigeria, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan, as well as the second largest city in Kyrgyzstan.

This collaboration aims to facilitate the arrival of visitors to the Kingdom. Under the agreement, flynas will operate direct flights to Abuja, the Nigerian capital, from Jeddah, and direct flights between Baghdad, the Iraqi capital, and King Abdulaziz Airport in Jeddah, as well as Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah.

Three other destinations in Central Asia will be launched, including direct flights from Jeddah to Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, and Osh, the second largest city in the country. The fifth new direct flight will operate between Jeddah and Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan.

During the signing ceremony, Bander Almohanna, flynas CEO and Managing Director, stated: “The new agreement strengthens the partnership between flynas and the Air Connectivity Program, and supports the company’s growth and expansion strategy launched under the slogan ‘Connecting the World to the Kingdom’, which aims to reach 165 destinations.”

Almohanna emphasized that connecting direct flights with these five new cities distributed between Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia, will enhance flynas’ ability to serve pilgrims and Umrah performers, and will open new horizons for tourism, trade exchange, and economic opportunities. It will also contribute to achieving the objectives of the Air Connectivity Program by establishing new routes.

“The partnership between flynas and the Air Connectivity Program marks a significant milestone in the ecosystem’s efforts to facilitate travel to the Kingdom,” said Ali Rajab, CEO of ACP. ‘’By enabling direct air connectivity to these five new international destinations, we create opportunities for airlines operating in the Kingdom, and for the tourism industry as a whole.

This collaboration is a testament to the shared commitment of all stakeholders to work together to enhance air connectivity, enrich the visitor experience, and create opportunities for tourism growth in Saudi Arabia. At ACP, we look forward to continuing this successful partnership with flynas and our valued stakeholders in the ecosystem,” Ali Rajab added.

This agreement follows last August’s signing of the first agreement between flynas and the Air Connectivity Program to launch four new direct routes to cities in Europe, North Africa, and Central Asia, including Marseille, Almaty, Algiers and Casablanca.

flynas currently connects more than 70 domestic and international destinations and has carried more than 60 million passengers since its establishment in 2007.

ACP works at the intersection of tourism and aviation by bridging the stakeholder ecosystem to enable the National Tourism Strategy’s vision and establish Saudi Arabia as a global leader in tourism air connectivity.

About the Air Connectivity Program

The Air Connectivity Program (ACP) was established in 2021 to support tourism growth in Saudi Arabia by enhancing air connectivity and developing existing and prospective air routes, connecting Saudi Arabia to new destinations. ACP works at the intersection of tourism and aviation by bridging the stakeholder ecosystem to enable the National Tourism Strategy’s vision and establish Saudi Arabia as a global leader in tourism air connectivity.