Saudi Air Connectivity Program, Saudia boost seat capacity to US, China

21/08/2026 02:28 AST

Saudi Air Connectivity Program (ACP), in collaboration with Saudia, has announced an increase in seat capacity across several international routes in 2026.

This step reflects ongoing efforts to strengthen the Kingdom's air connectivity with global markets, keep pace with growing travel demand, facilitate access to Saudi Arabia, and provide travelers with broader and more flexible travel options, said a Saudi Press Agency report.

Direct routes between Saudi Arabia and China have seen increased seat capacity. An additional weekly flight has been added to the Guangzhou-Jeddah (CAN-JED) route, bringing the total to four weekly flights and providing more than 124,000 seats annually in both directions.

An additional weekly flight has also been added to the Beijing Daxing-Riyadh (PKX-RUH) route, bringing the total to three weekly flights, with annual capacity exceeding 93,000 seats in both directions.

In addition, direct connectivity between Saudi Arabia and the United States has been enhanced with three additional weekly flights on the New York-Jeddah (JFK-JED) route, bringing the total to seven weekly flights and providing more than 211,000 seats annually in both directions.

These efforts build on the ongoing collaboration between the Air Connectivity Program and Saudi national carriers to expand the international destination network and strengthen the Kingdom's connectivity with priority markets.

They also aim to meet growing travel demand, increase seat capacity, provide travelers with more diverse and flexible options, and facilitate the arrival of more international visitors to the Kingdom. These efforts contribute to achieving the objectives of the National Tourism Strategy and the Aviation Sector Strategy, in alignment with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.

The Air Connectivity Program aims to support the growth of Saudi Arabia's tourism sector by strengthening air connectivity with global markets, developing existing air routes, and launching new international destinations. These efforts contribute to the Kingdom's target of connecting to 250 international destinations by 2030.

The program serves as an executive enabler of the National Tourism Strategy and the Aviation Program by building partnerships with government and private-sector entities across the tourism and aviation ecosystems, thereby strengthening Saudi Arabia's position as a leading global tourism destination.

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