First direct flight launched between Saudi Arabia, Venice
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Raven Ruma
- . March 30, 2023
- . Update: March 31, 2023 12:27 pm
Following a memorandum of understanding that low-cost Hungarian airline Wizz Air signed with the Saudi Investment Ministry, the first direct flight between Italy’s most popular tourist destination – Venice – and Saudi Arabia took place on Wednesday.
Operating all year round, the new direct flights between Saudi’s second-largest city of Jeddah and the historical lagoon city in Europe will be twice a week.
In line with the vision 2030 reform program, the MoU aims to enhance the development of the Kingdom’s tourism industry. The strategic plan is built around three primary themes – an ambitious nation, a thriving economy, and a vibrant society.
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It includes a number of goals and strategies that aim to reduce the Kingdom’s dependence on oil, increase non-oil international trade, develop its public service sectors, diversify its economy, and promote a more secular image of the country.
In recent months, the Hungarian airline has launched several other direct flights between Italian and Saudi cities, including from Milan to Jeddah and from Rome to Dammam and Riyadh, as part of the 23 new routes from Europe to the country.
The departure of the first direct flight between Venice and Jeddah was saluted with a ceremony at Venice’s Marco Polo Airport attended by a representative of the mayor.
Tamara Nikiforova, corporate communication manager at Wizz Air Malta, welcomed the expansion that began just a few months back, saying it “has already proved to be a success.” The new direct flight will allow all passengers from Venice to benefit from the immense artistic, cultural, and historical heritage Jeddah offers, she further mentioned.
