Saudia takes off to Beijing, opening new chapter in bilateral ties

Saudia Launches First Direct Flight Between Jeddah and Beijing

Introduction

In another major step toward strengthening bilateral relations between Saudi Arabia and China, the Kingdom’s flag carrier Saudia launched its first direct flight between Jeddah and Beijing last week. This move falls in line with Saudi Aviation Strategy, which recognizes the need to increase air connectivity with key markets such as China while accommodating increasing demand from international tourists seeking to discover the Kingdom.

Expanding Air Connectivity

The southern city of Guangzhou was the only destination for passengers visiting China from Saudi Arabia until now. Over the last seven months, Saudia has introduced as many as 25 new destinations, with the latest launch being the first air route between Saudi Arabia and the Chinese capital.

Flight Schedule

The company will operate two flights from Jeddah to Beijing every Monday and Friday. While passengers from Riyadh can also directly travel to the Chinese capital every Sunday and Wednesday.

Commitment to Global Network Expansion

Calling the inauguration of the new route to China a major milestone, Saudia Director General Ibrahim Al-Omar said this is part of the company’s continuous efforts to expand its global network, which now comprises over 100 destinations. “This affirms Saudia’s commitment to contribute to the National Aviation Strategy, which aims to reach 250 destinations by 2030,” Al-Omar said.

HIGHLIGHTS

• The inaugural flight SV886 took off at around 01:15 a.m. on Friday from Jeddah’s King Abdul Aziz International Airport for the Chinese capital with over 290 passengers onboard.
• Most of the passengers were Chinese, Brazilians, and Saudis, in addition to travelers from various other countries.
• After nearly 10 hours, Saudia’s Boeing 787-9 aircraft made its historic touchdown at Beijing Daxing International Airport, also known as Beijing New Airport.
• Upon its arrival, the Saudi plane was given a water cannon salute.
• For nearly an hour, another ceremony was held at the Beijing airport celebrating the inauguration of the Beijing-Jeddah route.

Tapping into a Market of 1.4 Billion People

Saudia has been in a race to increase its presence globally ever since Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman launched the National Transport and Logistics Strategy in 2021. With the introduction of its direct flight to the capital city of China, Saudia aims to tap into a market of more than 1.4 billion people who can explore the Kingdom’s historical sites, tourist and entertainment attractions, international sports events, and cultural diversity. Commenting on the inauguration, Chinese Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Chen Weiqing told Arab News that the new flights will push communications between the two friendly countries forward. “China and Saudi Arabia have played and will continue to play a pivotal role in regional and global economic development. We have increasing common interests. We also have common cultural and social values,” Weiqing said. He added: “I’m very optimistic that these ties will even become stronger. In this regard, I would like to thank Saudia for its efforts in facilitating connections between the two peoples.”

Historic Touchdown

The inaugural flight SV886 took off at around 01:15 a.m. on Friday from Jeddah’s King Abdul Aziz International Airport for the Chinese capital with over 290 passengers onboard. Most of the passengers were Chinese, Brazilians, and Saudis, in addition to travelers from various other countries. After nearly 10 hours, Saudia’s Boeing 787-9 aircraft made its historic touchdown at Beijing Daxing International Airport, also known as Beijing New Airport. Upon its arrival, the Saudi plane was given a water cannon salute. For nearly an hour, another ceremony was held at the Beijing airport celebrating the inauguration of the Beijing-Jeddah route.

Importance of Saudi Arabia-China Routes

Speaking to Arab News, the airport’s Deputy General Manager Kong Yue stressed that the routes between Saudi Arabia and China are very important and that the two countries are very strong partners. “In December 2022, our president, Xi Jinping, visited Saudi Arabia, and that was another strength element between the two countries. We believe these routes will help us have more communication in business and travel, and that is important to us,” he said.

Enhancing Global Connectivity

Saudia’s inaugural flight was made possible through a strategic collaboration with the Air Connectivity Program, which seeks to promote growth and development within the tourism and aviation sectors. This demonstrates Saudia’s commitment to leveraging partnerships to enhance global connectivity. “This new route reinforces Saudi Arabia’s bilateral ties with China, not only in the aviation industry but also in vital sectors like trade, business, tourism, education, and culture,” the company said in a press release. Saudia aims to help the Kingdom meet its target of welcoming over 100 million international visitors and pilgrims by 2030. The national carrier, which rose by 11 spots in Skytrax’s World Best Airlines ranking for 2023, also aims to develop human capital by creating quality jobs, nurturing local talent, and enhancing workplace diversity. It wants to increase the number of corporate, leisure, and religious travelers who hold huge potential for passenger and cargo growth.

Inauguration Ceremony

Diplomats and dignitaries from different countries attended on Saturday the inauguration ceremony for connecting Saudi Arabia with the Chinese capital at the Four Seasons hotel in Beijing. Abdulrahman Al-Harbi, ambassador of Saudi Arabia to China, said in his speech that these routes will pave the way for more economic, trade, and cultural cooperation between Saudi Arabia and China. “As a leading company, Saudia is steadily working to contribute to the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, especially in the tourism sector, in which Saudi Arabia is planning to attract 1 million visitors by 2030, including guests from China,” he said, adding that one of the main tasks of Saudia is to introduce Saudi Arabia to the world. Al-Omar, on the other hand, said that the first air route between Saudi Arabia and China through Guangzhou was announced on March 27, 2011. “Today, we are celebrating the second destination, and this is a chance to underscore the strong mutual ties between the two countries, with all the strategic and commercial partnerships. These routes will also reinforce the two nations’ communications and cultural exchange, along with other vital sectors, such as trade, business, investment, tourism, and education,” he said. Al-Omar further said that the operational rates of his company during 2022 affirm a growth in the air traffic between

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

The article discusses the launch of Saudia’s first direct flight between Jeddah and Beijing, which falls in line with the Saudi Aviation Strategy to increase air connectivity with key markets like China. This is relevant to SDG 9, which focuses on industry, innovation, and infrastructure. The article also mentions Saudia’s aim to tap into the Chinese market of over 1.4 billion people and promote tourism, which relates to SDG 8 on decent work and economic growth. Additionally, the article highlights the importance of partnerships between Saudi Arabia and China in various sectors, including trade, business, investment, tourism, and education, aligning with SDG 17.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable, and resilient infrastructure
• Target 8.9: Devise and implement policies to promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products
• Target 11.1: Ensure access for all to adequate, safe, and affordable housing and basic services
• Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private, and civil society partnerships

The article does not explicitly mention these targets, but they can be inferred based on the issues discussed. The launch of the direct flight between Jeddah and Beijing contributes to the development of infrastructure (Target 9.1) by increasing air connectivity between the two cities. The aim to tap into the Chinese market and promote tourism aligns with the target of promoting sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products (Target 8.9). Ensuring access to adequate housing and basic services (Target 11.1) is not directly addressed in the article. The importance of partnerships between Saudi Arabia and China in various sectors, as mentioned in the article, relates to the target of promoting effective partnerships (Target 17.17).

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

There are no specific indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets.

Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.

Source: arabnews.com

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