BA reinstates Saudi flights

[November 28th 2008]

British Airways has announced that it will resume flights to both Jeddah and Riyadh in Saudi Arabia from next March.

The airline suspended flights to the Saudi cities in March 2005 because of what it describes as “poor commercial performance on the route”.

Now BA says it will fly five times a week from Heathrow Terminal 5 to both Jeddah and Riyadh starting on March 29th next year. Flights to Riyadh will be operated using a Boeing 777, while a Boeing 767 will be used for the Jeddah flights.

"Resuming these flights makes commercial sense. The oil market is increasingly important globally and inward investment into Saudi Arabia has risen considerably in the last couple of years,” explains British Airways commercial director, Robert Boyle.

"We can start these flights now because the aviation market between Britain and Saudi Arabia has recently been liberalised," he adds.

Return fares to Jeddah will start from £425 and to Riyadh from £462 including taxes, fees and charges. BA says that next summer it will fly to 150 destinations around the world.

Passengers have until midnight on Saturday November 28th to book a flight in what the airline describes as its biggest ever BA Miles sale. The flight sale offers seats for half the usual BA Miles in any cabin class to any destination worldwide.

British Airways Executive Club members can take advantage of these flight offers, starting at 4,500 miles (usually 9,000) to many European destinations. There is no travel restriction period and bookings can be made up to 350 days in advance.

As examples, travellers could take a skiing holiday flight to Geneva for 4,500 miles, be the first at the opening parties on the party island of Ibiza for 7,500 miles, or find out why Libya is this year's hot destination for as little as 10,000 miles.

For travellers who fancy a holiday even further afield, the Caribbean and Johannesburg in South Africa can be reached with 25,000 miles. Flights start at 25,000 miles in World Traveller, 50,000 in Club and 75,000 in First. BA miles can also be purchased in multiples of 1,000 up to a maximum of 19,000 miles.

Written by: Nick Purdom

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