"Riyadh Air is launching daily flights between Riyadh and Islamabad ...From independence day on 14th august, direct would be started between two capitals of major Muslim countries in order to increase connectivity and civil military co-operation. New route to Lahore would follow suit on 18th august !Riyadh Air is the 2nd flag carrier of Saudi Arabia and currently operating 10 destinations with 7 dreamliners from Kuala Lumpur to London alike. They have ordered 150 jets including Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 for expansion to nearly 100 global destinations in near future !Almost seven airlines operate directly between two countries and carry 6 million passengers but Saudi Airline alone carries 2.5M to and from Pakistan due to Umra Hajj traffic & expats demand.2.6 million overseas Pakistanis are working in Kingdom of and sending 10 billion $ remittances back home annually. Bilateral trade of 5B is mostly confined to crude oilimports on deferred payments and some exports of rice and meat. Saudi GDP is crossing 1.4 trillion $ mark ...What do you think, should strategic alliance be expanded into civil aviation domain or not by inter operability of fleet, training and airports outsourcing. How it can help socio-economic growth of both economies "
Riyadh Air, the second flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, is set to initiate daily flights between Riyadh and Islamabad starting August 14, coinciding with Pakistan's Independence Day. This development aims to enhance connectivity between the capitals of two major Muslim nations and foster civil-military cooperation. Following this, a new route to Lahore is expected to commence on August 18.
The launch of these direct flights marks a significant step in improving transportation links between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. Currently, seven airlines facilitate direct connections, handling around six million passengers yearly. Notably, Saudi Arabian Airlines alone accounts for 2.5 million of those passengers, primarily due to the demand generated by Umrah and Hajj pilgrimages, as well as expatriate travel. With 2.6 million overseas Pakistanis residing in the Kingdom, who send home roughly $10 billion in remittances annually, the new routes could further strengthen these economic ties.
Bilateral trade between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan stands at $5 billion, largely dominated by crude oil imports on deferred payment terms and exports like rice and meat. The Saudi economy, boasting a GDP of over $1.4 trillion, shows a potential for increased investments in Pakistan, particularly within the aviation sector. Expanding strategic alliances into civil aviation could lead to the interoperability of fleets, shared training programs, and airport outsourcing. These strategies are expected to boost regional cooperation and mutual economic growth.
With the growing ambitions of Riyadh Air, which currently operates ten destinations using a fleet that includes seven Dreamliner aircraft, the expansion plans involving an order of 150 newer jetsincluding Airbus A350s and Boeing 787ssignal a brighter future for both nations in terms of connectivity and collaboration. The increased air travel capacity can be a catalyst for economic development, tourism enhancement, and cultural exchange. As both countries navigate this new phase, the focus on improving civil aviation infrastructure could yield significant socio-economic benefits for their citizens.
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