Saudi Arabia Minister of Tourism Ahmed bin Aqeel Al-Khateeb today oversaw the signing of a cooperation agreement between the Air Connectivity Program (ACP) and Virgin Atlantic Airlines at the Ministry of Tourism’s headquarters.
The agreement is set to enhance air connectivity between Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom by launching a direct flight route between Riyadh and London. The new route will facilitate access to various cities within the Kingdom, with daily flights operating between London Heathrow Airport and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. The service, scheduled to begin next March, will utilize Airbus A330 aircraft.
Virgin Atlantic’s entry into the Saudi market marks the tenth airline collaboration with the ACP since the start of the year, underscoring ongoing efforts to boost air connectivity in the Kingdom.
The Air Connectivity Program is a key component of Saudi Arabia’s National Tourism Strategy and National Aviation Strategy. It aims to drive tourism growth by developing and expanding air routes between Saudi Arabia and international destinations. The ACP fosters collaboration between public and private sector stakeholders in the tourism and aviation industries, strengthening Saudi Arabia’s position as a premier global tourist destination for air travel.
About Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia’s rich heritage and traditions have been shaped by its position as a historic trade hub and the birthplace of Islam. In recent years, the Kingdom has undergone a significant cultural transformation, evolving century-old customs to fit the contemporary world of today.
Getting around is easy, as while Arabic is the official language of Saudi Arabia and the primary language used in all dealings and public transactions, English serves as an informal second language in the Kingdom and is spoken by a large section of its society. All road signs are bilingual, showing information in both Arabic and English.
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