SAUDI Arabia’s national carrier flynas successfully launched its Global Flight Routes programme on April 8 with its inaugural non-stop flight from Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport to London Gatwick in the UK.
XY 21 touched down at 9.25 am (London local time) and was greeted with a traditional water cannon salute on touchdown at Gatwick Airport, where it was met by Guy Stephenson, chief commercial officer at London Gatwick along with other senior executives from the airport. The CEO of flynas, Raja Azmi, was on board the inaugural flight accompanied by media from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. They were welcomed at the gate with a cake-cutting ceremony. “Launching the first of our European long-haul routes is a very exciting day for flynas and we are very pleased to now offer our passengers a non-stop flight to London as part of our international network,” said Raja Azmi. “The flynas Global Flight Routes programme will cover new destinations across Europe, Asia and Africa, all flying out of our international hub in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in 2014. The international network will also include flights to Manchester, UK, in addition to Paris, France; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Jakarta, Indonesia; Karachi, Pakistan and Casablanca, Morocco.”Stephenson said: “We are very pleased to welcome the first passengers from Jeddah to London Gatwick today as we continue to build on our already successful long-haul network. This airline is the first low-cost carrier to serve Saudi Arabia from the UK, introducing further innovation into the long-haul, low-cost, business model.“Gatwick has spent over £1 billion ($1.68 billion) on new facilities in order to become London’s airport of choice for passengers and airlines from around the world. Saudi Arabia is designated as a high growth market by UK Trade and Investment, and we believe that this new, highly competitive service to Jeddah will therefore become an important additional business and leisure link for the UK.”The Airbus A330 aircraft is part of a major fleet investment for flynas and is set up in a two-cabin configuration, which includes a new 12-seat Business Class Cabin fitted out with a reclinable flat-bed. Passengers in both Economy and Business Class have access to smart in-flight entertainment, generous hold luggage and a host of other onboard services.