ANJ, May 11 - In 2025, Saudia, Saudi Arabia’s national flag carrier, continues to solidify its position as a pivotal player in global aviation, driven by the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 to enhance connectivity and boost tourism. Operating a modern fleet of 159 aircraft, including Airbus A320s, A330s, Boeing 777s, and 787 Dreamliners, the airline serves over 122 destinations, with 95 international cities across 40 countries. Its busiest international routes reflect a strategic blend of regional dominance, religious pilgrimage traffic, and growing intercontinental demand. These routes, ranked by weekly one-way seat capacity, underscore Saudia’s role in connecting Saudi Arabia to key global hubs.
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The Jeddah-Cairo route stands as Saudia’s busiest international corridor, operating nine daily flights with a mix of widebody A330-300s and narrowbody A321s. This route, with 63 weekly flights and 18,892 one-way seats, is a lifeline for Egyptian expatriates in Saudi Arabia, business travelers, and pilgrims during the Hajj and Umrah seasons. The cultural and economic ties between Jeddah and Cairo, two of the Arab world’s most influential cities, fuel their consistent demand. Following closely is the Riyadh-Dubai route, a highly competitive sector connecting Saudi Arabia’s capital to the UAE’s commercial hub. With seven daily flights primarily on A321s, it offers 9,780 weekly one-way seats, catering to business, leisure, and religious travelers, particularly during Ramadan. Another critical route is Jeddah-Dubai, which mirrors the Riyadh-Dubai corridor’s significance. Operating multiple daily flights, this sector supports religious tourism to Mecca and Medina while facilitating business and leisure travel, with a robust seat capacity reflecting its year-round demand. The Riyadh-London Heathrow route marks Saudia’s strongest intercontinental link, with 22 weekly flights on Boeing 777-300ERs, providing 8,734 one-way seats. This route serves diplomats, students, and tourists, bolstered by London’s status as a global financial and cultural center.
The Jeddah-Casablanca route, with twice-daily flights on 787-9 Dreamliners, offers 4,172 weekly one-way seats, strengthening ties with Morocco for tourism and business. Similarly, the Kuala Lumpur-Jeddah route, with 13 weekly 787-9 flights and 3,874 seats, caters to Southeast Asian pilgrims and leisure travelers, particularly during peak pilgrimage periods. Other notable routes include Jeddah-Dhaka, driven by labor migration and religious travel, and Riyadh-Cairo, which mirrors the Jeddah-Cairo route’s dynamics with high-frequency flights.
Saudia’s network also emphasizes connectivity to emerging markets. The Jeddah-Istanbul route supports growing trade and tourism with Turkey, while Riyadh-Doha reflects strengthened GCC relations, offering high-frequency flights for business and transit passengers. These routes align with Saudia’s ambitious expansion plans, including orders for 128 additional aircraft and a goal to reach 250 destinations by 2030. By prioritizing high-demand corridors, Saudia not only reinforces its regional dominance but also positions Saudi Arabia as a global aviation hub, seamlessly linking Asia, Africa, Europe, and beyond.