Qatar Airways has announced plans to resume flights to Abha, Saudi Arabia, and increase services to NEOM.
The airline will operate two weekly flights to Abha International Airport from January 2, 2025, marking its 11th destination in the Kingdom.
Qatar Airways boosts NEOM flights to 3-hour winter schedule
The Doha to Abha flight, QR1212, will depart at 08:35 and arrive at 11:15, with a flight time of approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes. The return flight, QR1213, will leave Abha at 12:15 and land in Doha at 14:45.
The carrier will also boost its NEOM service from two to four weekly flights during the winter season.
The expanded NEOM schedule will see flights departing Doha at 07:10 and arriving at 10:25, with the return leg leaving NEOM at 11:30 and touching down in Doha at 14:00.
These changes aim to offer passengers more travel options and access to Qatar Airways’ network of over 170 global destinations via Doha’s Hamad International Airport.
“We are proud to resume flights to Abha and increase frequencies to NEOM, further strengthening our presence in Saudi Arabia. This resumption is a testament to our unwavering commitment to connecting our passengers to the Kingdom’s highly coveted destinations. We look forward to welcoming both business and leisure travellers to experience the unparalleled service and connectivity that Qatar Airways offers through our Doha hub, Hamad International Airport,” Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer said.
The expansion further aligns with Saudi Arabia’s tourism strategy.
“We are thrilled that the World’s Best Airline, as voted by Skytrax, will resume direct scheduled flights to Saudi Arabia’s beautiful Aseer region and the city of Abha, as well as increase frequencies to NEOM, a futuristic city unlike any other in the Red Sea coast of the northwest. Through Qatar Airways’ large network, tourists from 170 destinations globally will fly to Abha and NEOM from the airline’s Doha hub. The resumption of this route supports our tourism strategy to bring Saudi Arabia’s untouched tourism potential closer to the world,” Saudi Air Connectivity Program CEO, Majid Khan added.
Cluster 2 Airports Company CEO, Engr. Ali Masrahi, added that the move supports the National Aviation Strategy and Air Connectivity Programme.
“The launch of direct flights to Aseer and Abha, as well as NEOM, aligns with our goals under the National Aviation Strategy and the Air Connectivity Programme. This move strengthens our global network and highlights our dedication to elevating our airports’ status. With 19 accreditations from Airports Council International, we are committed to delivering top-tier aviation services,” he said.
Qatar Airways will now operate more than 140 weekly flights to Saudi Arabia. Bookings for the new routes are available through the airline’s website and mobile application.
