Birmingham: Saudia Flight Status, Hub News & Discussion

[nwoody2001]

My December booking has been changed to LHR to JED instead of BHX - JED. That’s… unfortunate.

That's not the news we want to hear. Seems their October 2026 return has now been cancelled.... questions cancelled permanently or until 2027. One to watch but definitely not good!

 

[mullion]

The thing now is MAN is like Heathrow was 20/30 years ago they got all the business and had to fight for the business tooth and nail and I know because a friend of mine was heavily involved

 

[nwoody2001]

According to the website, the restarting of services from BHX-JED has been pushed back until 2nd April 2027. All flights up to then have been taken off sale, with flights resuming - and bookable - from Thur 1st April onwards 3x weekly.

Again one to watch...

 

[SierraHotel]

The thing now is MAN is like Heathrow was 20/30 years ago they got all the business and had to fight for the business tooth and nail and I know because a friend of mine was heavily involved

LHR was handling 15m more pax per year 35 years ago than MAN currently handles

 

[Silvercity]

The thing now is MAN is like Heathrow was 20/30 years ago they got all the business and had to fight for the business tooth and nail and I know because a friend of mine was heavily involved

Not really. Manchester doesn't offer anything like the connectivity of Heathrow. Like it or not most of countries wealth is in the capital, which is where airlines want to go to.

 

[gulftraveller]

Yes of course the capital will always attract more passengers as both demand and supply are greater. But in terms of destinations served, it is interesting:

MAN - 214
LGW - 215
LHR - 217

 

[AdamHussain07]

My December booking has been changed to LHR to JED instead of BHX - JED. That’s… unfortunate.

It was alright the day before. Just going to weigh my options. Refund or accept the new changes…

 

[Silvercity]

Yes of course the capital will always attract more passengers as both demand and supply are greater. But in terms of destinations served, it is interesting:

MAN - 214
LGW - 215
LHR - 217

of course most of Manchester destinations will be from Easyjet, Ryanair and Jet2 as leisure is far more important from there than Heathrow. But for sheer variety of worldwide destinations, its Heathrow.

 

[Karl C]

This is a Saudia Birmingham thread. Keep Heathrow and Manchester to their relevant threads people.

The thing now is MAN is like Heathrow was 20/30 years ago they got all the business and had to fight for the business tooth and nail and I know because a friend of mine was heavily involved

How is this relevant to the BHX thread????

 

[AdamHussain07]

It was alright the day before. Just going to weigh my options. Refund or accept the new changes…

Cancelled and refunded. Didn’t want it to be this way, but I guess my winter sun wasn’t meant to be.

 

[Karl C]

Cancelled and refunded. Didn’t want it to be this way, but I guess my winter sun wasn’t meant to be.

Try Egyptair Adam....from BHX of course 👍

 

[AdamHussain07]

Try Egyptair Adam....from BHX of course 👍

I hear their fares are quite generous, but I made the booking back in January, it was quite cheap with Saudia, 3600 for 6 people. Thanks for the suggestion though! 🙂

 

[Birmingham Aviation]

A Barton masterclass this is.

One in one out

 

[KARFA]

Cancelled and refunded. Didn’t want it to be this way, but I guess my winter sun wasn’t meant to be.

that's a shame. was asking SV to reroute you from MAN/LHR/LGW not something you might have considered?

 

[AdamHussain07]

that's a shame. was asking SV to reroute you from MAN/LHR/LGW not something you might have considered?

That was in mind, but after some consideration with family, we deemed it too much of a hassle with booking transport and hotels for the night.

SV did suggest LHR, however it was SV118 which is a redeye which, originally our times were in the afternoon.

 

[nwoody2001]

A Barton masterclass this is.

One in one out

Have you any evidence SV is out.... EK pushed back the start of their Evening routes 3 separate times.... BA have pushed back the relaunch of most of the middle east routes to early 2027 also. Are you suggesting those are canalled to?

BHX-JED flights are on the website and bookable in April. Until anything changes, these flights are happening just as much as any easyjet flight in April unless you know anything different?

 

[Birmingham Aviation]

Have you any evidence SV is out.... EK pushed back the start of their Evening routes 3 separate times.... BA have pushed back the relaunch of most of the middle east routes to early 2027 also. Are you suggesting those are canalled to?

BHX-JED flights are on the website and bookable in April. Until anything changes, these flights are happening just as much as any easyjet flight in April unless you know anything different?

Brussels airlines left
Austrian airlines left
No direct flights for the near future of 2027
Less multiple wizz flights:CLJ,KTW,WRO
Tax avoiding
Tons of queues one of the worst in 2025

I might be harsh however it needs to be mentioned

 

[AdamHussain07]

If I'm not mistaken, SV had some solid loads for winter periods in 2024 & 2025 (I believe NW25 was good as well).

I flew out in December 2024, packed flight! Even my return was also like that, but alas...

It mainly just boils down to the geopolitical situation. A lot of other people I noticed have also been rebooked to either Manchester or Heathrow.

 

[nwoody2001]

Brussels airlines left
Austrian airlines left
No direct flights for the near future of 2027
Less multiple wizz flights:CLJ,KTW,WRO
Tax avoiding
Tons of queues one of the worst in 2025

I might be harsh however it needs to be mentioned

I’m not sure what any of that has to do with the question I asked? And if it needs to be mentioned, it doesn’t need to be mentioned in the SV thread!?

If I'm not mistaken, SV had some solid loads for winter periods in 2024 & 2025 (I believe NW25 was good as well).

I flew out in December 2024, packed flight! Even my return was also like that, but alas...

It mainly just boils down to the geopolitical situation. A lot of other people I noticed have also been rebooked to either Manchester or Heathrow.

The reality is, relaunching or launching any route at the start of the winter season when pax levels are declining is never going to be an easy ask. For whatever reason, the airline has clearly come to the conclusion that delaying the restart to the start of the summer season has a better chance of success?!

Remember before the middle easy troubles, this was an airline planning to increase capacity by over 30% so they must have been happy with their loads up until then!

 

[Birmingham Aviation]

Maybe I go to far with my frustration and if I do immediately I apologize.

Maybe it’s a good sign that PIA could back sooner or later or maybe a new airline.