Qatar Airways has launched a new service to NEOM located in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The city becomes the ninth gateway for the airline within the Kingdom, with the first flight touching down at NEOM Bay Airport (NUM) on December 9, 2023.
With the recent addition of services to Tabuk (TUU), plus the resumption of flights to Yanbu (YNB), Qatar Airways is expanding its foothold in the booming Saudi Arabian travel market by enhancing NEOM’s connectivity to the rest of the world through its Doha (DOH) mega-hub.
With the launch of NEOM services, the Middle Eastern carrier now offers a total of 125 weekly flights between Doha and Saudia Arabia. The cities served include AlUla (ULH), Dammam (DMM), Gassim (ELQ), Jeddah (JED), Medina (MED), NEOM, Riyadh (RUH), Taif (TIF), and Yanbu, providing travelers with a “comprehensive network to explore the diverse landscapes and cultures of this thriving country,” according to a Qatar Airways statement.
“We are excited to introduce NEOM as our ninth gateway in Saudi Arabia,” said Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer, Eng Badr Mohammed Al Meer. “We believe that the launch of this flight underlines our commitment to providing a seamless travel experience for our passengers in the Saudi market. NEOM is the land of the future, where technology, sustainability, and innovation converge to create a unique and dynamic region. We are delighted to connect travelers from all over the world to this visionary region.”
“We are delighted to welcome Qatar Airways to NEOM Bay Airport,” said NEOM Airport Chief Executive Officer, Justin Erbacci. “Twice weekly flights to Hamad International Airport, which is one of the most significant air hubs in the wider region, offer people and businesses exciting access to an extensive onward global network. NEOM Bay’s addition of a fourth airline operator, and third international destination, is a milestone moment in the early phases of our strategic expansion of NEOM’s connectivity, which is so vital to support our ongoing development.”
Launched in 2017 as an entirely new city for Saudi Arabia by Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince, and Prime Minister of the country, NEOM is planned to be a futuristic region in northwest Saudi Arabia powered by 100% renewable energy. According to the Saudi government, NEOM is a place that “prioritizes people and nature, creating a new model for sustainable living, working and prospering. It is a place where humanity can progress without compromising the health of the planet.”
By launching services to NEOM, Qatar Airways is opening connectivity to the region while also creating a vital pathway for the new city’s growing workforce to maintain connections with families back in Qatar. The new operations to NEOM will also facilitate business travel, and it is hoped will further foster enriched economic and cultural ties between Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
Passengers in Saudi Arabia traveling from NEOM will enjoy seamless connectivity to over 170 destinations worldwide through the Qatar Airways hub in Doha.
Flights between the two cities operate on Tuesdays and Fridays. The outbound flight (QR1204) departs Doha at 06:55 arriving at NEOM at 10:10. The return flight (QTR1205) leaves NEOM at 11:25 arriving back at Doha at 14:00.
All flights are operated by Qatar’s 28-strong fleet of Airbus A320s which each seat 144 passengers – 12 in business class and 132 in economy class.