Minister of Tourism Ahmed bin Aqeel Al-Khateeb today oversaw the signing of a cooperation agreement between the Air Connectivity Program (ACP) and Virgin Atlantic Airlines at the Ministry of Tourism’s headquarters.

The agreement is set to enhance air connectivity between Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom by launching a direct flight route between Riyadh and London. The new route will facilitate access to various cities within the Kingdom, with daily flights operating between London Heathrow Airport and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. The service, scheduled to begin next March, will utilize Airbus A330 aircraft.

Virgin Atlantic’s entry into the Saudi market marks the tenth airline collaboration with the ACP since the start of the year, underscoring ongoing efforts to boost air connectivity in the Kingdom.

The Air Connectivity Program is a key component of Saudi Arabia’s National Tourism Strategy and National Aviation Strategy. It aims to drive tourism growth by developing and expanding air
routes between Saudi Arabia and international destinations. The ACP fosters collaboration between public and private sector stakeholders in the tourism and aviation industries, strengthening Saudi Arabia’s position as a premier global tourist destination for air travel.

Source: Saudi Press Agency