ISLAMABAD: SaudiGulf Airlines, the new full-service national carrier ofSaudi Arabia has announced the start of its operations to four destinationsin Pakistan as part of its international route expansion programme.

Emphasizing on the pivotal role of travel trade in maintaining therelationship between The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Pakistan , SaudiGulfAirlines is initiating operations to four major cities in Pakistan beingLahore, Islamabad, Sialkot and Peshawar.

“We are pleased to announce our 2018 international routes expansionstarting with four destinations in link>Pakistan link> from Dammam, Saudi GulfAirline’s main base in Saudia Arabia. This route will connect passengersfrom link>Pakistanlink> across the kingdom of Saudi Arabiathrough King Fahd International Airport in Dammam,” stated Chief CommercialOfficer Karim Makhlouf at a press conference in Islamabad.

The airline will operate its Airbus A320 aircrafts tolink>Pakistanlink> offering leather seats in bothcompartments, business and economy class. It will commence direct flightsfrom Dammam to Lahore and Islamabad with a frequency of four flights perweek as well as three flights per week connecting Dammam with Sialkot andPeshawar.

Utilizing King Fahd International Airport in Dammam as the hub of itsoperations, Saudi Gulf airlines will be the first Saudi carrier to operatedirect flights between the Eastern Providence of Saudi Arabia andlink>Pakistanlink> .

This strategic decision was taken by SaudiGulf Airlines aligned with theSaudi Vision 2030 to support the expanding growth in infrastructureprojects in the kingdom which will ultimately contribute to ease of travelto passengers between Saudi Arabia and link>Pakistan link> .

Furthermore, the routes shall be utilized to carry passengers from thementioned destinations in link>Pakistanlink> across the kingdom of Saudi Arabiathough Dammam hub.

Connections mainly include Jeddah and Medina dedicated to carry Hajj andUmrah passengers. The decision made by SaudiGulf Airlines to provideconvenience of travel from and to the holy sites in Mecca and Medina aspart of its religious contribution as a new national carrier. “We arepleased to add new flights to cater to the growing demand of Umrah and Hajjtraffic out of link>Pakistanlink> , while also providing passengers withconvenient connections via Dammam,” said Makhlouf.

Starting operations on the 1st of March 2018, the fares are to start from12,000 PKR and include free seat selection, hot meals, in-flightentertainment services as well as personalized customer service.

SaudiGulf Airlines will be represented by the largest GSA network inlink>Pakistanlink> , Gerry’s Group. This partnership is atestament of Saudi Gulf Airlines’ intensions to capture a significantmarket share in link>Pakistanlink> .

“We have decided to partner and cooperate with Gerry’s Group for itswell-known efforts as a General Sales Agent with more than 50 years ofexperience in this field,” he added.

“The induction of Saudi Gulf Airlines as a direct Saudi Carrier initiatingoperations to link>Pakistanlink> will significantly add value to thetravel trade industry of link>Pakistanlink> and testifies to growing travel demandacross the Country,” said Arshad Wali Muhammad, Gerry’s Group Director. -NNI