Air France has this week announced plans to expand their presence in Saudi Arabia with new Paris-Riyadh flights to launch in the Summer of 2025.
It is understood these new flights have been supported via the Air Connectivity Program in the Kingdom.
Without further ado, let’s get into it…
The Paris-Riyadh Flights with Air France…
Not a lot has been revealed regarding the technical plans with Air France on the new Paris-Riyadh flights.
All we know is that the services are set to be launched in the Summer of 2025.
Furthermore, this will also complement a Memorandum of Understanding also signed with SAUDIA this week, to form further ties in the region.
Also, it means that in the Air France-KLM Group, all three airlines will serve the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
This is due to the already existing KLM services to Riyadh and Dammam, as well as the upcoming flights to Jeddah from Paris Orly and Lyon with Transavia.
Furthermore, Benjamin Smith, CEO of Air France-KLM, the major conglomerate, stated:
“Saudi Arabia is rapidly emerging as a world-class destination and a key gateway.”
“We are delighted to support the Kingdom in this new chapter by expanding our connections and strengthening our existing ones, and thank the Saudi Air Connectivity Program for its valuable support.”
Moreover, adding to this was Majid Khan, CEO of Air Connectivity Program:
“We are delighted to welcome Air France to the Kingdom, as part of our wider efforts to increase air connectivity to key destinations and ensure travel to the Kingdom is a seamless experience. Air connectivity holds immense potential to boost tourism development.”
“The commencement of direct flights from Air France-KLM between King Khalid International Airport, Riyadh and Charles de Gaulle, Paris from Summer 2025, will enable the two-way flow of thousands more tourists between our two great countries.”
Saudi Arabia Becoming The Emerging Market?
Through the Air Connectivity Program, Saudi Arabia is becoming a major emerging market.
Furthermore, the addition of flights between Paris & Riyadh with Air France will be much welcomed.
Multiple airlines over the course of this year have committed to the market in the Kingdom.
With the country’s big plans for tourism growth, airlines want to get in on this emerging market.
What will be interesting to see will be how big this market actually becomes.
All eyes will be on what other carriers set their eyes on what is expected to be a disruptor to the status quo in the Middle East.
But for now, all we can do is wait and see.
As soon as we have more information, we will update you accordingly.
Be sure to keep an eye out on our website for such details in due course.
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