Saudia

[Coathanger16]

Don’t worry, that doesn’t mean the service is ending. It’s just the max date your able to book as from now

Yes I know. Didn't say it was ending, just thats the farthest out you can book it...

 

[Timberwolf]

Easily done Richl don't worry.

 

[IanFarquharson]

Saudia to begin Jeddah flights from BHX this summer



Saudia Airlines is to fly three times a week between Birmingham (BHX) and Jeddah (JED).

The Saudi Arabian carrier will begin operating this route with its Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft from July 2, with services on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.

Nick Barton, chief executive of Birmingham Airport, said: "We are thrilled to welcome Saudia to Birmingham and to establish direct connectivity between the second cities of Britain and Saudi Arabia."

“There's no doubt these Saudia services will be well subscribed in both directions by people travelling for business, leisure and family purposes."

”Customers heading west from Saudi Arabia now have direct flights to Birmingham Airport, the global gateway to the West Midlands region, an economic powerhouse on a strong trajectory of growth.

“For customers heading east from the UK, Jeddah, on the Red Sea, offers rich array of cultural, leisure and business opportunities.

“Jeddah also has strong onward connectivity to destinations across Asia and Africa. Brits travelling from Birmingham beyond Jeddah can make use of the 'stop-over visa' - a chance to enjoy this historic city before heading on."

 

[Scania1800]

Saudia to begin Jeddah flights from BHX this summer



Saudia Airlines is to fly three times a week between Birmingham (BHX) and Jeddah (JED).

The Saudi Arabian carrier will begin operating this route with its Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft from July 2, with services on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.

Nick Barton, chief executive of Birmingham Airport, said: "We are thrilled to welcome Saudia to Birmingham and to establish direct connectivity between the second cities of Britain and Saudi Arabia."

“There's no doubt these Saudia services will be well subscribed in both directions by people travelling for business, leisure and family purposes."

”Customers heading west from Saudi Arabia now have direct flights to Birmingham Airport, the global gateway to the West Midlands region, an economic powerhouse on a strong trajectory of growth.

“For customers heading east from the UK, Jeddah, on the Red Sea, offers rich array of cultural, leisure and business opportunities.

“Jeddah also has strong onward connectivity to destinations across Asia and Africa. Brits travelling from Birmingham beyond Jeddah can make use of the 'stop-over visa' - a chance to enjoy this historic city before heading on."

July seems like a very fun month for BHX

 

[tompo]

I believe Mr Barton is quite fanciful in his quote “ business, leisure and family purposes”. The Country has only been open to tourism since 2013 (Inc a 3 year covid hiatus). The majority of UK citizens would shudder at the thought of ‘oven type’ conditions whereby one cannot even wear shorts or show skin and enduring the most restrictive social regimes on the planet. There is no demonstrative family connection scenario between Saudi and the West Midlands and business traffic is extremely thin. The overwhelming majority traffic will be muslim pilgrimage for a short intense period. Nevertheless, I really hope that the initiative is a success for the airline and BHX.

 

[jfy1999]

I believe Mr Barton is quite fanciful in his quote “ business, leisure and family purposes”. The Country has only been open to tourism since 2013 (Inc a 3 year covid hiatus). The majority of UK citizens would shudder at the thought of ‘oven type’ conditions whereby one cannot even wear shorts or show skin and enduring the most restrictive social regimes on the planet. There is no demonstrative family connection scenario between Saudi and the West Midlands and business traffic is extremely thin. The overwhelming majority traffic will be muslim pilgrimage for a short intense period. Nevertheless, I really hope that the initiative is a success for the airline and BHX.

He does also refer to onward connections to other countries in Asia which will generate a significant percentage of the traffic. Saudi might end up being similar to Emirates, most people who use Emirates out of Birmingham don’t have Dubai as their final destination. I think the success of this route depends on whether enough people use it to connect to India, Pakistan etc.

 

[Timberwolf]

He does also refer to onward connections to other countries in Asia which will generate a significant percentage of the traffic. Saudi might end up being similar to Emirates, most people who use Emirates out of Birmingham don’t have Dubai as their final destination. I think the success of this route depends on whether enough people use it to connect to India, Pakistan etc.

I have seen on a thread on Airliners Net that a fair number of the passengers on the MAN Saudia service transit onwards to Pakistan.
In the absence of PIA that might also help the BHX Saudia flts ?

 

[A330]

The overwhelming majority traffic will be muslim pilgrimage for a short intense period.

Not entirely correct. What you refer to is Hajj which takes place over a month and brings millions of people to Saudia Arabia each year. This year it falls in mid June I believe, so actually a couple of weeks after the route to BHX commences. Yes - the two weeks either side of Hajj we can expect full flights or possible upgrades. On this point we once had 2 x Saudia 744 into BHX - it may have been Christmas day about 15 years ago!

There is also a sort of mini Hajj called Umrah which can be performed year round outside of Hajj dates. In my opinion, it is this religious traffic visiting the two holy cities that will make up the majority of the new Saudia service. Most will fly to Jeddah airport to enter Makkah and start their Umrah tour while some fly to the other holy city of Madinah.

Therefore, most using this service will be point to point, religious traffic.

However, it's clear to see there are connections to Pakistan, India and Bangladesh, so I think the service will grow in this area in the future. When looking at the schedule, in a similar pattern to the lunchtime Emirates, the flight arrives in Jeddah around midnight. Within the next three hours there are onwards connections to the big cities in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

It's worth remembering if the price is right and the luggage allowance seems generous....people will book! Never underestimate how important the price of the ticket can be compared to other parameters such as flight times, duration of travel, airports etc.

Saudia have done their homework and there will be always be a proportion of pax who choose the direct option that were travelling to MAN or LHR. These passengers would not have previously started their journey from BHX, so the new service has the potential to reduce some leakage.

 

[Scania1800]

Not entirely correct. What you refer to is Hajj which takes place over a month and brings millions of people to Saudia Arabia each year. This year it falls in mid June I believe, so actually a couple of weeks after the route to BHX commences. Yes - the two weeks either side of Hajj we can expect full flights or possible upgrades. On this point we once had 2 x Saudia 744 into BHX - it may have been Christmas day about 15 years ago!

There is also a sort of mini Hajj called Umrah which can be performed year round outside of Hajj dates. In my opinion, it is this religious traffic visiting the two holy cities that will make up the majority of the new Saudia service. Most will fly to Jeddah airport to enter Makkah and start their Umrah tour while some fly to the other holy city of Madinah.

Therefore, most using this service will be point to point, religious traffic.

However, it's clear to see there are connections to Pakistan, India and Bangladesh, so I think the service will grow in this area in the future. When looking at the schedule, in a similar pattern to the lunchtime Emirates, the flight arrives in Jeddah around midnight. Within the next three hours there are onwards connections to the big cities in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

It's worth remembering if the price is right and the luggage allowance seems generous....people will book! Never underestimate how important the price of the ticket can be compared to other parameters such as flight times, duration of travel, airports etc.

Saudia have done their homework and there will be always be a proportion of pax who choose the direct option that were travelling to MAN or LHR. These passengers would not have previously started their journey from BHX, so the new service has the potential to reduce some leakage.

The demand usually increases for Saudi in the Feb-April period to July-September, this is because of Islamic events that take place

 

[Timberwolf]

Il

The demand usually increases for Saudi in the Feb-April period to July-September, this is because of Islamic events that take place

It does, but they also pull international routes during these times to use planes on more local religious shuttles.

 

[Karl C]

According to aero routes......


Saudia during the month of September and October 2023 plans to increase capacity on Jeddah – Birmingham route, previously not highlighted on AeroRoutes. The Skyteam member’s planned 3 weekly service with Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner from 02JUL23 remains unchanged, however 1 of 3 weekly flight will switch to -10 from 05SEP23 to 22OCT23.

SV251 JED0810 – 1300BHX 789 47
SV251 JED0810 – 1300BHX 787 2

SV250 BHX1430 – 2240JED 789 47
SV250 BHX1430 – 2240JED 787 2

Although their post doesn't show the upgauge just above, so I'm thinking it's the Tuesday flight.

 

[Coathanger16]

Will that be BHXs first B787-10?

 

[Timberwolf]

Will that be BHXs first B787-10?

Yes I think so.

According to aero routes......


Saudia during the month of September and October 2023 plans to increase capacity on Jeddah – Birmingham route, previously not highlighted on AeroRoutes. The Skyteam member’s planned 3 weekly service with Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner from 02JUL23 remains unchanged, however 1 of 3 weekly flight will switch to -10 from 05SEP23 to 22OCT23.

SV251 JED0810 – 1300BHX 789 47
SV251 JED0810 – 1300BHX 787 2

SV250 BHX1430 – 2240JED 789 47
SV250 BHX1430 – 2240JED 787 2

Although their post doesn't show the upgauge just above, so I'm thinking it's the Tuesday flight.

Looking that way.
So they are either expecting high demand already at this time or they have a shortage of 9s for a number of weeks.

 

[mullion]

Its not just for one day it can effect several day because of schedules or even maintenance, this shows more on a european schedule, say Lufthansa has an aircraft doing 3 routes in day and one sector may need an A321 it will mean the whole days flights for that aircraft will change even if 50 pax pax on both BHX sectors for argument sake. Hope that is clear.

 

[Karl C]

Its not just for one day it can effect several day because of schedules or even maintenance, this shows more on a european schedule, say Lufthansa has an aircraft doing 3 routes in day and one sector may need an A321 it will mean the whole days flights for that aircraft will change even if 50 pax pax on both BHX sectors for argument sake. Hope that is clear.

What are you referring to? The upgauge to a 78X? I'm confused......

 

[mullion]

That what I hoped I hadn`t done, basically an aircraft change can happen because of the operations a day before or after because of needs A friend of mine who used to fly for Monarch explained it all and it was complicated, Sorry to confuse you

 

[Karl C]

İ don't see how that touches upon an upgauge for all of September and October this year. I'm sure it's just down to expected higher demand or maintenance on the 789. Unless there's a man on the inside, we will never know.....all guess work as nobody here works for Saudia or BHX.
Sure wasn't expecting an upgauge so fast into the proving period

 

[IanFarquharson]

BHX have confirmed to me 787X is correct

 

[mullion]

Quite often happens apparently, could be an aircraft in for a C check which is known about for many months ahead. As it has only just gone on sale sholdn`t be full already

 

[gulftraveller]

It isn’t. Whole of September is open. It is simply aircraft rotation.