Saudia announced the launch of a new direct route from two cities in Saudi Arabia to Phuket International Airport (HKT) in Thailand.
The new route will commence December 2024, and will depart from King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED) in Jeddah, and King Khalid International Airport (RUH) in Riyadh.
This makes Phuket the second Thai city to be part of Saudia’s network, following flights to the capital, Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) in Bangkok.
There will be a total of 12 weekly round trips between Phuket and Jeddah and Riyadh. For this route, Saudia will deploy its fleet of B787 Dreamliner aircraft.
“We are thrilled to open up this new direct route to Phuket, offering our guests even more choice and flexibility. Opening this new route to Phuket is an iconic destination, known for its stunning natural beauty and diverse attractions,” Arved Von Zur Muhlen, Chief Commercial Officer at Saudia Group said in a statement.
“The addition of this new route demonstrates Saudia’s vision to expand our global network and connect our guests to the places they want to visit. We look forward to welcoming guests to experience Saudia’s renowned hospitality, premium inflight services, and convenient connections,” Von Zur Muhlen added.
The announcement came just days after Saudia unveiled its new First and Business Class check-in lounge at Terminal 1 of King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah.
The exclusive space is designed to elevate the travel experience for Saudia’s First and Business Class guests, as well as AlFursan Gold members.
The new lounge features 10 dedicated check-in counters, each with a comfortable seating area for passengers. Upon arrival, guests are greeted by specialized staff who will offer traditional Saudi coffee and dates. The lounge also includes a dedicated café counter, offering a selection of hot and cold beverages.
The new check-in space marks a significant milestone in the carrier’s strategy to strengthen its Jeddah hub. The plan involves centralizing operations in modern facilities and services, optimizing connectivity and transit traffic, and maintaining a distinctive on-time performance through integrated operations.
Saudia believes that by strengthening its Jeddah hub, it is also contributing to the broader Saudi Vision 2030 goal of attracting 330 million visits to Saudi Arabia.
