RIYADH: A scheduled direct flight between Iraq and Saudi Arabia arrived at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah on Wednesday. The Flynas flight from Erbil had 174 passengers on board, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The Saudi low-cost air carrier will fly from Erbil to Jeddah twice a week, on Wednesdays and Sundays. Other airlines, including flyadeal and Saudi Airlines, are expected to launch similar flight schedules in May. Regular flights between the Kingdom and Iraq have resumed as a result of the ongoing efforts of the Saudi-Iraqi Coordination Council, as well as the support of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The flights are expected to strengthen economic ties and investment, improve trade relations, and make it easier for tourists and pilgrims to travel between the two countries. The General Authority of Civil Aviation aims to expand air connectivity to 250 destinations, carry 330 million passengers, and boost air cargo capacity to 4.5 million tons by 2030 in line with the Kingdom’s national aviation strategy.