Saudia Airlines announced it will launch a new destination to Erbil, Iraq, as of October 1. It will operate three weekly flights nonstop from Jeddah. The announcement of the new route was made after Saudia resumed flights to Baghdad in October 2017. Prior to this, there were no direct flights between Saudi Arabia and Iraq for 27 years. Saudia Airlines Director General Saleh al-Jasser said the company is expanding its route network consistently, increasing air links and seat capacity both intra-regionally and internationally. “Following the airline’s start of flights to Baghdad, the increase in travel demand between the two countries within a short period of time has provided growth opportunities, and eventually the introduction of an additional station to support and facilitate the expansion in cooperation,” he added. He explained the new regular service would boost relations between the two countries and provide tourism and investment opportunities, as well as additional transit traffic for the airline. The airline boasts 154 airplanes that fly to over 90 destinations around the world. Meanwhile, President of the Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), Abdul Hakim al-Tamimi, visited London’s Cranfield University, which has been ranked as one of the leading institutions in the field of aviation science. Tamimi, and the accompanying delegation, inquired about the Universitys services and equipment and the latest technologies in the fields of aviation, alternative energy, business and transport. They discussed ways to develop joint cooperation between GACA and the University and to identify opportunities for exchanging experiences in areas of mutual interest between the two parties.