Summary
- Saudia will resume flights to Toronto Pearson International Airport in a few months.
- The airline aims to strengthen competition on a global scale and serve a diverse range of passengers, including Saudi nationals studying abroad.
- The reintroduced service is in collaboration with the Air Connectivity Program.
After a five-year diplomatic dispute, Saudi Arabia’s national airline, Saudia, will return to Canada with flights to Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) this winter. The carrier said the resumption of flights will be a prominent addition to its international flight network.
Saudia is reportedly committed to strengthening competition among flights on a global scale, serving a variety of demographics. It comes after the carrier increased its international network by 15% over the summer following the Hajj season.
Flight details
On Tuesday, Saudia announced that flights to YYZ would be reintroduced on December 2, 2023, departing from its hub at King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED) in Jeddah. SV61 is scheduled to take off from JED at 09:25 and fly for 14 hours nonstop, arriving at 15:25 in Toronto. For the return flight, SV62 is scheduled to depart from YYZ at 18:15 and arrive in Jeddah on Sunday, December 3rd, at 13:45. According to the airline, the JED bound flight is much shorter, lasting around 11 and half hours.
Photo: jremes84/Shutterstock
The carrier will operate the route six times weekly roundtrip on the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. The aircraft accommodates 24 seats in business class and 274 in economy class. Known for its spacious and meticulously designed arrangement, the plane also features a suite of advanced services that provides an elevated travel experience for passengers onboard, according to the airline.
A “strategic move”
The service is in collaboration with the Air Connectivity Program (ACP), an initiative that supports tourism growth in Saudi Arabia by enhancing flight connections and developing existing and future routes to connect the country to new destinations.
Saudia said in a statement that its destination count with the ACP is just under 10 with the addition of flights to YYZ.
“Toronto becomes SAUDIA’s ninth destination in collaboration with the ACP. The strategic move affirms the airline’s commitment to strengthening the competitive edge in the global aviation industry, serving a diverse range of guests, including Saudi nationals pursuing education abroad.”
In 2018, Saudi Arabia reportedly suspended flights amid protesting Canada’s condemnation of its human-rights record. Global Affairs Canada called on the country to release detained women’s rights and democracy activists. As a result, Saudi Arabia recalled its ambassador in Ottawa, expelled Canada’s envoy, and reduced the number of its citizens studying in Canada, according to CTV.
Photo: jremes84/Shutterstock
Established in 2021, the ACP reportedly intersects tourism and aviation by bridging the stakeholder ecosystem. It enables the National Tourism Strategy’s vision and works to establish Saudia Arabia as the global leader in tourism air connectivity.
“It [service to YYZ] also aligns seamlessly with our goal to connect the world with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, through the tourism, business, and seasonal Hajj and Umrah industries,” Saudia explained.
Growing tourism and aviation
According to the ACP, Saudi Arabia is one of the world’s fastest-growing tourism and aviation destinations. The program credits the country’s clear government strategy, strong financial commitment, and several tourism locations for its position to have sustained growth. By 2030, the country hopes to have 250 destinations connected over 29 airports with over 300 million annual passengers.
Sources: CTV, Air Connectivity Program