Saudi flag-carrier Saudia confirmed that it will resume limited passenger services to Dubai (DXB), Abu Dhabi (AUH) and Amman from 11 April, ending a six-week suspension imposed at the height of regional hostilities. Daily rotations will operate Jeddah-Dubai (SV588/589) and Jeddah-Abu Dhabi (SV570/571), with schedules adjusted as air-space restrictions ease. Saudia halted all UAE flying on 28 February after air-traffic corridors over Bahrain and parts of Saudi Arabia were intermittently closed for military operations. The reopening signals a gradual normalisation of Saudi-UAE connectivity that is critical for corporate travellers shuttling between the Gulf’s two largest economies. Travel-management companies say the reinstated flights restore an essential bridge for regional project teams who had been forced onto longer routings via Muscat or Kuwait. The restart also re-activates interline cargo flows for time-sensitive perishables moving from Jeddah’s Red Sea port to Asian markets via Dubai’s freight mega-hub. Saudia warns that schedules remain “subject to further notice” and advises passengers to reconfirm bookings. Mobility managers are urged to monitor bilateral capacity: Dubai continues to cap foreign airlines to one daily rotation (see separate story), meaning Saudia must spread its limited flights across its two UAE destinations until at least 31 May.
Source: The Economic Times
