The Saudi Air Connectivity Program (ACP) and Eurowings (EW) have signed an agreement, in the presence of the Minister of Tourism, Ahmed Al-Khateeb, on the sidelines of Saudi Arabia’s participation at the International Travel Trade Show held in Berlin.
The agreement aims to enhance air travel connections between Germany and Saudi Arabia by launching two direct routes connecting Cologne and Berlinto Jeddah.
Scheduled to begin operations in October 2024, Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) will offer three weekly flights to King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED), while Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) will offer two weekly flights. These routes will be serviced by the A320 aircraft.
This partnership further enhances the connectivity between Europe and Saudi Arabia, following the recent announcement of the Berlin-Jeddah route by national carrier flynas earlier this month.
CEO of ACP Majid Khan, stated:
‘’This agreement with Eurowings comes at a time of positive global momentum for air connectivity between Europe and Saudi Arabia.”
“Eurowings’ entry from Cologne and Berlin to Saudi Arabia will further enhance air connectivity between our two nations and develop German tourism to Saudi Arabia. We look forward to a long-standing partnership with Eurowings to expand the network in the coming years, offering travelers from Europe more options to experience the wonders of Saudi Arabia and explore its unique culture.’’
President of Americas & Europe Markets at the Saudi Tourism Authority Hazim Alhazmi, said: “This strategic partnership enhances the growing relationship between Europe and Saudi Arabia, highlighting our shared commitment to cultural and commercial exchange by facilitating travel between the two countries. This collaboration will also provide all partners with new business opportunities while catering to the needs of visitors to the Kingdom. We extend a warm invitation to all guests, encouraging them to explore the Kingdom and uncover its rich historical, cultural, and entertainment offerings.”
Eurowings noted that the direct routes from Berlin and Cologne to Jeddah provide travelers with more options for medium-distance travel. In addition, it emphasized the economic and cultural importance of the link between Germany and the Gulf region, stating their intention to operate the routes with their new Airbus A320neo aircraft, which are the quietest and most efficient medium-range jets in the world.
The Saudi Air Connectivity Program (ACP), under the Ministry of Tourism of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, aims to enhance air connectivity from unserved and underserved markets around the world to the Kingdom. ACP works at the intersection of tourism and aviation by bridging the stakeholder ecosystem to enable the National Tourism Strategy’s vision and establish Saudi Arabia as a global leader in tourism air connectivity.
