SAUDIA to be first airline to operate services to Red Sea International airport

Image: Red Sea Global

The Red Sea and Amaala’s developer Red Sea Global (RSG) has signed a memorandum of understanding with Saudi Arabian Airlines (SAUDIA) and daa International, the operator of Red Sea International (RSI) airport.

The agreement will see SAUDIA become the first airline to operate in and out of RSI.

The airport is set to open this year along with the first three resorts at The Red Sea destination.

To begin with, RSI will open for domestic flights to and from Riyadh and later Jeddah, before expanding to handle international flights from 2024.

John Pagano, group CEO of Red Sea Global, “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 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.”

The agreement will see SAUDIA commence regular scheduled services to and from RSI.

The MoU also provides a framework for the three organisations to undertake joint research on the use of lower carbon aviation fuel and sustainable aviation fuel at Red Sea International Airport.

The use of electric vertical take-off and landing jets eVTOL to reduce emissions from air travel to The Red Sea will also be explored.

SAUDIA to continue supporting Vision 2030

Captain Ibrahim Koshy, CEO of SAUDIA, said: “The agreement marks a new chapter in Saudi Arabia’s aviation history. As wings of Vision 2030, SAUDIA’s contribution is to be an enabler in attaining giga projects targets, and our involvement as the first airline to operate from and to Red Sea International airport is a source of pride for us all.”

The agreement expands on daa International’s existing relationship with RSG as the operator of its international airport.

daai will continue to manage the airport and work with SAUDIA on various activities, such as the allocation of airport gates and counters.

Three resorts at The Red Sea will open this year along with the first phase of the Red Sea International airport.

A further 13 hotels will open as part of phase one, and upon full completion in 2030, the destination will host 50 resorts, offering up to 8,000 hotel rooms and more than 1,000 residential properties across 22 islands and six inland sites.

In other news, RSG signed a 25-year concession agreement with French multinational electric utility company EDF (Électricité de France) and UAE-based clean energy company Masdar on a multi-utilities infrastructure facility to service the Amaala destination.