Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has granted approval for China Southern Airlines to commence passenger and cargo services, scheduled to begin on April 16. The airline will operate flights from Beijing, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen to Riyadh.

The summer 2024 schedule will feature four weekly passenger flights and three air cargo flights, enhancing Saudi Arabia's global connectivity.

Ali Mohammed Rajab, Executive Vice-President for Air Transport and International Cooperation, expressed enthusiasm for the new routes, highlighting their significance in boosting Saudi Arabia's connectivity and fostering competitive aviation and tourism sectors.

The announcement follows a February 2024 visit by a Saudi delegation to China, resulting in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening air transport and airfreight. GACA President Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Dauilej and Civil Aviation Administration of China Administrator Song Zhiyong signed the agreement.

These new routes are expected to bolster the Kingdom's global connectivity and promote competition within the Saudi aviation sector, aligning with the objectives of the Saudi Aviation Strategy.

The Saudi Aviation Strategy seeks to significantly increase the Kingdom's connectivity by the end of the decade, with initiatives such as the Saudi Air Connectivity Program aimed at supporting the aviation and tourism sectors.