Qatar Airways have announced the launch of three weekly flights to Yanbu, the ninth destination in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, according to QNA.
Passengers travelling to and from the sea port city will experience Qatar Airways’ renowned five-star service, as well as have the opportunity to explore the multiple award-winning Hamad International Airport, the airline’s hub in Doha, before continuing their journey to any of Qatar Airways’ 150 plus global destinations.
Qatar Airways group chief executive Akbar Al Baker said: "As our ninth destination in the kingdom, Yanbu will bring additional flexibility for passengers connecting from Asia, the Middle East, Europe and the Americas. Passengers departing from Yanbu will now be able to travel seamlessly through our state-of-the-art Doha hub, Hamad International Airport, to more than 150 destinations. At the same time this will provide passengers travelling to Saudi Arabia from international markets the convenience of another gateway in the Kingdom."
Director of Western Airports, Suliman Al Rawaf, welcomed Qatar Airways’ inaugural flight at Prince Abdulmohsin Bin Abdulaziz Airport in Yanbu, and said he is looking forward to establishing a fruitful relationship with the airline. "Yanbu airport is witnessing a notable growth in the number of international flights, with about 650,000 passengers served in 2016 on board 5,392 flights. We have completed preparations to increase the airport’s ability to receive even more international flights, including inbound flights from neighbouring countries in the region. These efforts are part of the country's aspiration of achieving the ambitious Saudi Vision 2030," Al Rawaf said.
Yanbu is located in Al Madinah province of western Saudi Arabia, which has recently been gaining popularity in the region as a tourist destination. One of its main attractions is a natural harbour protected by coral reefs, making it an optimum diving spot.
Qatar Airways began operations to the Kingdom in 1997 with non-stop flights to Jeddah. The airline has added Riyadh, Dammam, Madinah, Qassim, Ta’if, Al Hofuf and Abha to its portfolio of destinations, all non-stop to and from Doha.
Known for introducing industry firsts, Qatar Airways is one of the fastest growing airlines operating one of the youngest fleets in the world. Qatar Airways has a modern fleet of 199 aircraft flying to more than 150 key business and leisure destinations across six continents