By Muhammad Luqman
A privately-owned Saudi Airliner has announced to start its operations to Pakistan from 1st March which is going to be its first step outside the Saudi Arabia as the part of its international routes expansion programme, according to media reports.
SaudiGulf Airlines, a new full-service national carrier of Saudi Arabia owned by Abdulhadi Al Qahtani and Sons Holding Company will have four destinations in Pakistan including Lahore, Islamabad, Sialkot and Peshawar.
“We are pleased to announce our 2018 international routes expansion starting with four destinations in Pakistan from Dammam, SaudiGulf Airline’s main base in Saudi Arabia. This route will connect passengers from Pakistan across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia through King Fahd International Airport in Dammam’’, Karim Makhlouf, Chief Commercial Officer told a news conference.
It will commence direct flights from Dammam to Lahore and Islamabad with a frequency of four flights per week as well as three flights per week connecting Dammam with Sialkot and Peshawar. The airliner has also plan to extend our operations to other cities in Pakistan including Karachi and Multan.
Starting operations on March 1, the fares are to start from PKRs12,000 (promotional fares) and include free seat selection, hot meals, in-flight entertainment services as well as personalised customer service. The airline will operate its Airbus A320 aircrafts to Pakistan offering leather seats in both compartments, Business and Economy Class.
Utilizing King Fahd International Airport in Dammam as the hub of its operations, SaudiGulf airlines will be the first Saudi carrier to operate direct flights between the Eastern Providence of Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. The routes shall be utilised to carry passengers from the mentioned destinations in Pakistan across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia though the Dammam hub. Connections mainly include Jeddah & Medina dedicated to carry Haj & Umrah passengers. The decision made by SaudiGulf Airlines to provide convenience of travel from and to the Holy Sites in Makkah and Medina as part of its religious contribution as a new national carrier.
“We are pleased to add new flights to cater to the growing demand of Umrah and Haj traffic out of Pakistan, while also providing passengers with convenient connections via Dammam”, said Karim Makhlouf.
“We have decided to partner and cooperate with Gerry’s Group for its well-known efforts as a General Sales Agent with more than 50 years of experience in this field’’, Karim Makhlouf, Chief Commercial Officer, SaudiGulf Airlines said.
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