Tourism and Entertainment / King Abdulaziz International Airport launches the first flights of China's Hainan Airlines.

King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah received the first flight of the Chinese Hainan Airlines, making it the first airport in the Kingdom to operate direct flights to the Chinese city of Haikou, with three flights per week.

This new destination between the two cities enhances the growing air traffic, consolidating the airport's position as a global logistics center, and adding a direct air link between the Kingdom and China.

The flight was received by the CEO of Jeddah Airports Company, Eng. Mazen bin Mohammed Johar, the Consul General of the People's Republic of China in Jeddah, Wang Qi, and a number of leaders from the Tourism Authority, the Air Connectivity Program, and government and security sectors operating at the airport.

Hainan Airlines is one of the best (10) airlines in the world according to the global "Skytrax" evaluation, which makes this partnership a qualitative addition that raises the level of air services through King Abdulaziz International Airport, and provides travelers with a high-quality travel experience.

Fahd Hamidaddin, CEO and Board Member of the Saudi Tourism Authority, said: “We are proud of our strategic partnership with Hainan Airlines, and we look forward to expanding and activating this partnership through the initiatives and promotional campaigns launched by the Saudi Tourism Authority.”

Fahd Hamidaddin added: “The growth rate in the number of Chinese visitors reached (52%) compared to last year, and air connectivity between Saudi Arabia and China via six airlines has been increased to (29) flights per week, targeting (5) million Chinese tourists annually by 2030.”

For his part, the CEO of Jeddah Airports, Eng. Mazen bin Mohammed Johar, said: “This qualitative step comes within the strategy of Jeddah Airports Company, which seeks to bring the number of destinations of King Abdulaziz International Airport to (150) international destinations by 2030, in line with the objectives of the National Aviation Strategy to achieve the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.”

He added, "The operation of the first scheduled flights of Hainan Airlines to the new destinations within the airport's scheduled flights will contribute to strengthening air connectivity between the Kingdom and the Asian continent, reflecting the position of King Abdulaziz International Airport as a strategic hub for air transport, and supports the expansion plans directed at the airport's infrastructure and services, to meet the aspirations of travelers from all over the world."

For his part, Executive Director of the Air Connectivity Program, Majid Khan, explained that this day is an important step towards strengthening the Kingdom's global connectivity, noting that our reception of Hainan Airlines in Jeddah, and the increase in flights by other Chinese airlines, reflects the growing demand for travel between the two countries, contributes to stimulating tourism and cultural exchange, and consolidates the Kingdom's position as a global gateway in accordance with the aspirations of the Kingdom's Vision 2030.

Majid Khan emphasized that this step comes within the efforts of His Excellency the Minister of Tourism and General Supervisor of the Air Connectivity Program, Ahmed bin Aqeel Al-Khateeb, to enhance the Kingdom's presence as an approved tourist destination for Chinese tourists, within the framework of a plan aimed at attracting more than (5) million Chinese tourists by 2030, making the Chinese market the third largest source of tourists coming to the Kingdom.

This step comes within the framework of the General Authority of Civil Aviation's ongoing efforts to enhance air connectivity and expand the air transport network, in order to achieve the goals of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which aims to make Saudi Arabia a global logistics platform and open new horizons for travel, in line with the objectives of the National Aviation Strategy.