National carrier to offer four weekly services from Jeddah and Madinah Air Connectivity Program aims to enhance Kingdom’s air routes to 250 destinations worldwide and transport 330 million passengers by 2030 JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s national carrier, Saudia, has launched its first direct flight to Medan in North Sumatra, offering four weekly services from the western cities of Jeddah and Madinah. Marking the second destination in Indonesia after Jakarta to be served by the carrier, the announcement, which was made on Aug. 31., aligns with the airlines’ commitment to connecting the world with the Kingdom and advancing Saudi Vision 2030, particularly in enhancing services for pilgrims and visitors to the two holy mosques. The air carrier celebrated the inaugural flight to Medan with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Madinah-based Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport, in the presence of Indonesia’s ambassador to the Kingdom, Abdulaziz Ahmed, and the assistant vice president of KSA Sales at Saudia, Wail Basaffar, as well as relevant stakeholders. Established in 2021, Saudi Arabia’s Air Connectivity Program aims to enhance the country’s air routes to 250 destinations worldwide and transport 330 million passengers by 2030. The initiative also seeks to streamline market entry and promote expansion opportunities for flight travel partners in the Kingdom. By developing new routes, the ACP strives to position the nation as a global leader in tourism air connectivity. In its statement, Saudia said it offers a range of services designed to elevate the guest experience, including digital platforms allowing users to plan their journeys, complete necessary procedures, and access after-sales support. It added that it provides on-site services at airports to expedite processes and ensure a seamless travel experience. With a fleet of 143 aircraft, the company’s international operations are continuously evolving to expand its market share and set new benchmarks in guest transportation, catering to tourists, visitors, and pilgrims. The air carrier emphasized that it is committed to increasing the volume of transit traffic between continents via the Kingdom, adding that this is a key pillar of its strategic vision and new era. Despite June being a peak travel month due to the Hajj pilgrimage and summer travel season, the airline topped the global rankings for the month with an 88.22 percent on-time arrival rate, according to new data from the independent aviation tracking site Cirium. Saudia also recorded an on-time departure rate of 88.73 percent, while operating 16,133 flights across its network of over 100 destinations on four continents. In May, Saudia Group signed an order for an additional 105 A320neo family planes, marking the largest aircraft deal with Airbus in the Kingdom’s history. The $19 billion deal, announced at the Future Aviation Forum in Riyadh by Ibrahim Al-Omar, the group’s director general, includes A320neo and A321neo models. These aircraft will be distributed between Saudia and flyadeal, the group’s low-cost carrier. Saudia will acquire 54 A321neo aircraft, while flyadeal will receive 12 A320neo and 39 A321neo models. The group is set to receive the first airliner in the first quarter of 2026.