Air China has become the third Chinese airline to schedule flights to Saudi Arabia, following China Eastern Airlines and China Southern Airlines.
The carrier plans to introduce its first regular flights to the kingdom starting May 6, operating three times per week between Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) and Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport (RUH). Airbus A330-300 aircraft will be deployed on the sector.
The move comes as counterpart China Southern prepares to inaugurate its first route to the Middle East country on April 16, linking Beijing Daxing and Riyadh twice a week using A330s. Flights from Guangzhou and Shenzhen are set to follow later this summer.
Additionally, China Eastern will make its debut in the Saudi Arabian market on April 27, providing a nonstop connection between its Shanghai Pudong International Airport hub and RUH. The 4,509-mi. (3,918-nm) sector will be served three times per week using A330-200s.
Air China, China Eastern, and China Southern—alongside Xiamen Airlines—have offered flights to the kingdom in the past, but each have been limited-time services specifically designed to accommodate religious traffic.
The surge in capacity between China and Saudi Arabia is being supported by the Saudi Air Connectivity Program, set up to enhance air connectivity to unserved and underserved markets. It hopes to make China one of Saudi Arabia’s top three source markets for tourists by 2030.
According to OAG Schedules Analyser data, Saudia is currently the only airline offering nonstop flights between Saudi Arabia and China, with a total of four routes. Saudia serves Guangzhou from Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED) and RUH, flying 3X-weekly and 2X-weekly, respectively. Saudia also serves Beijing Daxing from JED and RUH twice a week.
O&D traffic between Saudi Arabia and mainland China reached approximately 300,000 two-way passengers in 2019, Sabre Market Intelligence data shows, marking a 19% increase from the previous year. Preliminary figures for 2023 show O&D traffic of around 283,000 two-way passengers.
In a separate move, China Eastern has scheduled the launch of a new European service. Flights between Shanghai and Vienna are slated to begin on June 22, operating three times per week. The SkyTeam alliance member offers 14 routes to Europe at present, flying to 10 cities including Amsterdam, Paris, Madrid, and Rome.
Additionally, China Southern Airlines has confirmed that it will also add flights to Budapest this summer. Service from Guangzhou will start on June 27, operating four times per week using 787-8s.
“This announcement introduces our fifth Chinese destination for passenger flights, and we are confident that our new partnership with China Southern Airlines will contribute to strengthening ties between our two regions,” Budapest Airport CCO Balázs Bogáts says.
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