Saudia to bring back direct route from Manchester to Jeddah
- Service will initially run from 15 December 2021 – 09 January 2022, three times per week from Terminal Two
- Manchester is the UK’s only airport outside London to offer a direct route to Saudi Arabia
- Almost 170,000 people flew to Saudi Arabia via Manchester in 2019, including over 97,000 using Saudia’s direct Jeddah service
Saudia will return to Manchester Airport in December for the first time in 21 months as it relaunches its direct service to Jeddah.
The first flight is set to depart on Wednesday 15 December from the recently reopened Terminal Two, which has been expanded and modernised as part of a £1bn transformation programme. The service will run three times per week on the iconic Boeing-787 Dreamliner, with the frequency of flights then subject to review dependent on demand.
Saudi Arabian flag carrier Saudia began operating the Manchester – Jeddah route in 2014, and prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, it had steadily grown to become one of Manchester Airport’s most important routes to the Middle East. In 2019, more than 97,000 passengers used the service, which remains the only direct route to Saudi Arabia offered by a UK airport outside of London.
Jeddah is a popular gateway for those travelling to Mecca for Umrah pilgrimage, and the return of this route will be particularly welcome news for the Muslim community in Manchester Airport’s wider catchment area, which numbers more than 700,000. It will also allow the 2,500 or so Saudi Arabian students at universities across the North to travel home via Manchester at the end of the winter term.
Manchester Airport managing director Karen Smart said: “The return of Saudia to Manchester Airport is wonderful news and demonstrates the renewed confidence amongst passengers and airlines as we begin to emerge from the pandemic.
“This is a route that is hugely important to communities across the North, given it is the only direct service to Saudi Arabia outside London.
“It also has substantial economic benefits for our region, given the ever-growing trade and investment partnership between the UK and Saudi Arabia.
“We are thrilled to welcome Saudia back to Manchester and hope to see this service becoming a permanent fixture in 2022.”
Located on Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast, Jeddah is one of the country’s most popular destinations for inbound tourists. Just one hour away from Mecca by car, it also offers plenty of attractions of its own, including seafront resorts, museums, galleries, traditional cuisine and the 7th Century walled city of Al-Balad, with buildings constructed from coral.
Passengers can now book tickets through Saudia https://www.saudia.com/
Government Advice, Restrictions and Covid-19 Safety Measures
For all the latest Government advice and restrictions, passengers are advised to visit its website: www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-advice-novel-coronavirus
Specific travel advice for Saudi Arabia can be found here: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/saudi-arabia
Passengers can read all about Manchester Airport’s Covid-19 safety measures here. Manchester Airport strongly recommends the wearing of face coverings at all times in the terminal building, in line with government guidance. Many airlines are continuing to make face coverings mandatory, so passengers are advised to check with their carrier before flying.
For passengers’ safety and peace of mind, Manchester Airport continues to run an advanced cleaning regime and in collaboration with its sanitising partner Carex, has installed new 116 hand-sanitiser units at key points on the passenger journey.