Saudi Arabia’s national carrier is adding two fresh pins to its regional map, betting on growing leisure travel demand and deeper commercial ties across the Middle East.
Saudia Airlines has officially opened up new routes from Jeddah to Egypt’s El-Alamein and Oman’s Salalah, reinforcing its ambition to become the regional airline of choice not just for pilgrims, but also for holidaymakers, business travelers, and Gulf-based diaspora alike.
Egypt’s North Coast Gets a Direct Connection
The El-Alamein service is more than a seasonal schedule change. It’s a nod to Egypt’s glittering North Coast, a hotspot of real estate and tourism growth, with Gulf investors pouring in.
The route from Jeddah to El-Alamein will run three times weekly. Departures will take off from King Abdulaziz International Airport, while Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport is also in the mix, offering three additional flights each week.
This means six round trips weekly, funneling visitors directly to the Mediterranean coast.
It’s also Saudia’s fourth Egyptian destination, after Cairo, Alexandria, and Sharm El-Sheikh.
“The demand is growing. Saudis are buying homes there. Gulf tourists are booking summer stays,” said a Cairo-based travel operator, who’s seen bookings spike this year for El-Alamein, especially from Saudi families.
Oman’s Salalah: Not Just for the Khareef
Saudia also launched flights to Salalah, its second Omani destination after Muscat. The city is best known for the “Khareef” season, when monsoon rains turn it into a rare green escape in the Gulf.
Flights will operate three times a week from Jeddah, connecting Saudi travelers to the lush Dhofar mountains.
One sentence paragraph? Sure.
But the airline’s choice of Salalah is strategic beyond the summer months.
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Here’s why the Salalah route matters:
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Rising domestic tourism in Oman has created year-round demand
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Salalah Port is a growing logistics hub
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Saudia is aiming to attract both leisure and business travelers
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The airline’s move comes just weeks after Oman Air said it would increase its own capacity into Saudi Arabia. The competition in this corridor is clearly heating up.
Fleet Size and Frequency: Building a Bigger Network
Saudia’s latest moves aren’t just about two cities—they’re part of a larger pivot.
The airline currently operates a fleet of 147 aircraft. That’s already large. But the real headline? It plans to grow by nearly 80% with the addition of 118 more planes in the next few years.
That includes new Airbus A321XLRs and Boeing 787s, part of a broader $19 billion modernization deal revealed last year.
To put that in perspective, here’s how Saudia’s regional presence has grown in the last five years:
| Year | Regional Destinations | Weekly Regional Flights | Aircraft in Fleet |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 24 | 210 | 138 |
| 2023 | 31 | 310 | 142 |
| 2025 | 37 (post-launch) | 360+ | 147 |
Note: Estimates based on CAPA and Saudia public reports.
That’s a steep climb—and one that signals intent.
It’s About Tourism, But Not Just Tourism
This expansion clearly caters to the rising number of tourists hopping across Gulf and North African destinations. But there’s a second layer here—geopolitics and investment flows.
Saudi Arabia is investing billions into Egyptian real estate and infrastructure, especially in North Coast cities like El-Alamein and Ras El Hekma. More direct flights help Gulf investors check on their assets—and build new ones.
Salalah’s inclusion, meanwhile, signals a warming of Saudi-Omani relations. In recent years, the two countries have boosted cooperation across border trade and tourism, capped off with road link projects and customs agreements.
And with Saudi Arabia aiming to draw 150 million tourists by 2030—part of its Vision 2030 blueprint—its carriers need to be everywhere.
Even in places that weren’t on the flight map five years ago.
Passenger Experience Gets a Nudge Too
The new destinations will be served by Airbus A320 aircraft.
That might sound like standard stuff. But these aren’t your cramped, budget-style jets. Saudia says the aircraft feature upgraded seating and more in-flight entertainment choices.
For years, Saudia had a bit of a reputation problem—dated interiors, limited entertainment, and erratic customer service.
But things have changed. Since late 2023, the airline has rolled out AI-assisted onboard service systems, faster check-in, and new lounge upgrades at Jeddah airport.
One passenger recently posted on X, “Didn’t expect Saudia to be this smooth. Flight to Muscat had great food, free WiFi, and movies I actually wanted to watch.”
That’s the kind of buzz airlines can’t buy—but need badly.
Vienna, El-Alamein, Salalah: Saudia’s New Arc
This isn’t a random expansion.
Earlier this month, Saudia also inaugurated its first direct flight from Riyadh to Vienna. That’s a different play altogether—targeting European leisure and business travel.
But when you put Vienna, El-Alamein, and Salalah together, a pattern emerges: Saudia is trying to own the high-middle segment of air travel—leisure-heavy, culturally familiar, and conveniently timed routes that bypass older transit hubs like Dubai and Doha.
