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On Friday, February 16, King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, received the first regular direct flight of Turkmenistan Airlines from Ashgabat. There were 279 passengers on board the plane.

The first flight was marked by the presence at the meeting of Ambassador of Turkmenistan Orazmuhammed Charyev, Advisor to the President of the General Directorate of Civil Aviation Suleiman Al-Bassam and Director General of Jeddah Airports Mazen Johar, as well as other leaders, Saudi Gazette reports.

Mazen Johar noted that the launch of direct flights from Turkmenistan is in line with Jeddah Airports' strategy to expand the number of destinations available through King Abdulaziz International Airport. This contributes to Saudi Arabia's National Aviation Sector Strategy goals of connecting the airport to 150 international destinations and welcoming 114 million passengers by 2030.

The new route to Ashgabat, which will operate three times a week, is designed to strengthen economic ties, increase trade and ease of travel for passengers, including Hajj and Umrah pilgrims and tourists, and strengthen ties of friendship between Saudi Arabia and Turkmenistan.

King Abdulaziz International Airport handled more than 42.7 million passengers in 2023, up 36% from 31.4 million passengers in 2022, setting a new record for annual passenger traffic at the airport.

Jeddah is a port city in Saudi Arabia on the Red Sea coast. It is not only a modern economic center, but also a gathering place for pilgrims going to the holy Muslim cities of Mecca and Medina.

The day before, on February 15, the first flight of Turkmenistan Airlines from Ashgabat was welcomed at the airport in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

ORIENT news

Photo: twitter.com/KAIAirport