Yes - not bad going for a route that hasn't even been announced yet... :ok:

I'm sure Turkish will consider all of these points before they make a final decision. I did read that NCL was on their priority list of points to be served.

it’s been there for months now

I would be staggered if this turned out to be true but The Northern Echo are suggesting that Saudair could be launching from Newcastle...

https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/ne...rport-flights/

Shirt sponsorship more likely. The Echo should stick to cutting and pasting press releases.

Presumably United was a minor long-haul route?

Think they diverted to Teesside on way in…good start!

FLY SAUDIA all around electronic boards at various points of the Newcastle Chelsea game this evening so just a sponsorship promotion.
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....9dafb3d009.jpg

Saudi
 

makes you think are we about to get some flights.
not many people will travel to Manchester or London just to fly Saudi when we have daily Emirates flights.

think we could see 3x weekly flights maybe ?
A321’s

I'd be amazed (and a bit embarrassed as a Geordie to see the way Tyneside is sucking up to the Saudis, but that's for Jet Blast). The match was on national and international TV - the Saudia ads aren't there for the folks in the Leazes End.

The idea that Saudia would decide to offer scheduled service to NCL ahead of EDI or GLA is almost laughable, but it would be a real coup were it to come to pass.

Not when NUFC will essentially the biggest supported football club in Saudi Arabia if the demand from Saudi to visit Newcastle is there then it will be well before GLA and EDI.

I personally think this is just a partnership of the club and wont result in any scheduled services but like i say the bigger and more successful the club becomes there will be demand from Saudi Arabia's end.

It would take more than a few well healed footie fans to make a viable scheduled service, especially when on a small scale map Newcastle looks to be just up the road from Manchester.

Well Liverpool are a major Garuda link - I've even flown on a Red's badged Airbus from Bali to Jakarta - but they don't turn up at John Lennon.

It's making the Football Club a world name and associating THAT with Saudia - nothing to do with Woolsington.

First Sunday flight cancelled....

And just to round off the Saudi footie fans meanderings, Turkish Airlines flies to seven destinations in Saudi Arabia...

Maybe any Saudi demand for travel to NCL could be met via Turkish Airlines (Istanbul) should that service be launched.
Previous poster just beat me to it.!!!

Don't be so sue , I spotted it from the Leazes end.

A Friday and Sunday flight would work quite well I think

No it wouldn't.

How a story in a local paper with photo aside the by-line suggesting the "journalist" is very young and inexperienced and has simply put "two and two together" and made a number somewhat different from four. The story will have got "The Chronicle" a few extra clicks, but has also managed to gain traction through this supposedly better informed thread.

As #GrahamK suggests there is no reason to assume that a Fri/Sun twice weekly service from JED, RUH or anywhere else in the Kingdom is going to be viable, there simply won't be enough Saudi season ticket holders for NUFC fans with the money or inclination to travel, and without wishing to stereotype Newcastle as a city, there aren't going to be that many Saudi young men and women likely to visiting the city on a weekend break for a bender!!

This story needs putting to bed!

Nothing is impossible when an airline is state owned.

First of all, lets not forget that Saudi also offer onward connections, so it's not just the NCL-Saudi market at stake here. A nice cheaper alternative to Emirates. Saudi Arabia are making a big push at the moment to open up to tourism, and expanding the airline for connections is a part of that. Secondly, lets not underestimate the wealth of the average Saudi Arabian. There are more than enough wealthy Saudis to fill a Fri/Sun rotation to come and watch Newcastle play - especially on an A319/A320 if the latter has the range to do so.

Although it might just be a new promo as part of the Manchester route to advertise how close it is to Newcastle and boost sales on that route.

Like everything else, we'll just need to wait and see.