LONDON – This week has seen Wizz Air inaugurate a substantial expansion of its Saudi Arabia-based flights as the airline’s global outreach continues to expand.
The focus for the Hungarian carrier is Riyadh and Jeddah from multiple European destinations.
Without further ado, let’s get into the expansion news.
Jumping for Joy in Jeddah…
On January 9, 10, and 11, Wizz Air launched three new routes from Europe into Jeddah.
This amounts to six additional flights to the Saudi-based destination, with Bucharest, Budapest, and Rome being the three lucky destinations from Europe.
Commenting on this expansion was Robert Carey, the President of Wizz Air:
“We are thrilled to offer three exciting new routes that increase the connectivity of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Europe.”
“One of the most exciting countries in the world, Saudi offers visitors countless attractions and a thriving cultural scene.”
“Wizz Air now flies from Jeddah to five destinations in Europe, once again confirming its commitment to the market.”
“We will continue to innovate and are excited to continue bringing exciting new routes to Saudi residents and the international traveler.”
Running to Riyadh…
From the Hungarian capital of Budapest and the Romanian capital of Bucharest, Wizz Air inaugurated two new flights to Riyadh, which adds an additional four weekly flights to that airport as well.
Commenting on this expansion was Fahd Hamidaddin, the CEO and Member of the Board at the Saudi Tourism Authority:
“Saudi’s partnership with Wizz Air continues to go from strength to strength.”
“Already one of the largest partnerships in the world, the announcement of two new connections from Budapest Airport and Bucharest Airport to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, ensures Saudi will remain an exciting destination for Europeans to visit and explore.”
“The announcement also re-affirms our commitment to an accessible and affordable Saudi experience.”
Why Is Wizz Air Targeting Saudi Arabia for Growth?
In case you missed it, last year, Wizz Air signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Investment of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to enhance the development of the Saudi tourism sector.
Wizz Air says the following on this MoU, which is supported by the Air Connectivity Programme in the region:
“It reflects a shared vision between the parties on the potential Wizz Air could bring to the Kingdom with its incredibly low fares to stimulate tourist demand, thereby making a significant contribution to Saudi Arabia’s planned growth.”
This is why we have seen multiple flight inaugurations and announcements from the Hungarian carrier over the last few months.
Overall…
It remains clear that this inauguration reflects a new stage in the international expansion of the Wizz Air arsenal.
These flights, alongside its expansion within the Abu Dhabi subsidiary, highlight the significant demand there is for such low-cost flights to Europe from the Middle East and beyond.
All eyes will be on the carrier to see where else they will go next with this model, and what sort of additional global coverage we will see in the future.
