flydubai set to launch new Saudi route in Feb

Low cost carrier flydubai said on Monday it was planning to launch a new route to Saudi Arabia next month.

Dubai's budget airline said in a statement it will begin operating two flights a week to Ha’il, its ninth destination in the Gulf kingdom.

Flights to Ha’il, an oasis city in Nejd in the north west of the country, will start on February 13.

The city contributes to a large percentage of the Kingdom's wheat, date and fruit production.

flydubai CEO Ghaith Al Ghaith said: “As we remain committed to better serve the Saudi market, we are grateful to the authorities for their continuous support of flydubai.

"The start of this service reaffirms our commitment to serve regional airports with direct flights to Dubai. We look forward to serving passengers from Ha’il, which is becoming increasing important to the kingdom’s economy.”

flydubai first launched services to Saudi Arabia in November 2010, and now serves Riyadh, Jeddah, Abha Yanbu, Dammam, Gassim, Tabuk and Taif.

The carrier now serves a network of more than 50 destinations across 32 countries across the GCC, Middle East, North Africa, Indian Subcontinent, Asia and Central and Eastern Europe.

Flights to Ha’il will operate on Wednesdays and Fridays with return trip fares starting at AED1,000.

Separately, Qatar Airways on Monday launched its first new route of 2013 with the introduction of scheduled services to Gassim in Saudi Arabia.

The Doha – Gassim route becomes the carrier’s fifth gateway in the kingdom, joining already established and popular routes of Riyadh, Jeddah, Madinah and Dammam.

With Gassim, the number of flights to Saudi Arabia rises from 61 to 65 frequencies each week.