Saudia to resume flights to Manchester
Gulf carrier Saudia will restart flights to Manchester Airport in December for the first time in 21 months.
The first flight from Jeddah is set to depart on 15 December to MAN’s recently reopened Terminal Two, which has been expanded and modernised as part of a £1bn transformation programme.
The service will run three times per week on Boeing-787 Dreamliners, with the frequency of flights then subject to review dependent on passenger demand.
Saudi Arabian flag carrier Saudia began operating the Manchester – Jeddah route in 2014, and prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, it had steadily grown to become one of Manchester Airport’s most important routes to the Middle East.
In 2019, more than 97,000 passengers used the service, which remains the only direct route to Saudi Arabia offered by a UK airport outside of London.
"The return of Saudia to Manchester Airport is wonderful news and demonstrates the renewed confidence amongst passengers and airlines as we begin to emerge from the pandemic," said Manchester Airport Managing Director Karen Smart.
"This is a route that is hugely important to communities across the North, given it is the only direct service to Saudi Arabia outside London."
Jeddah is situated on Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast and is a burgeoning destination for inbound tourists as Saudi Arabia embraces general tourism.
It is just one hour away from Mecca by car.
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