Enter Saudi new airline RIA and maybe Wizzair on such Tourist routes. The later A321XLRs would be ideal for such a route!

Don’t exactly understand the role of RIA as a conduit whilst retaining Saudia at the same time

Through certainly the roles of Flynas and Flyerdeal will develop more so as leisure carriers in the near future.

Flynas were premature in the longer haul sector especially as their prior international flying was and is primarily moving migrants labour ( health and construction ) into and out of the region.

Flyerdeal have a budget niche within the Kingdom and ambitious plans internationally to cut a margin in the expected tourist trade growth.

Would be a bold move from Riyadh to allow Wizz Abu Dhabi access just yet imho, especially given the current infrastructure that exists is targeted at rather higher grade of visitors as is their management.

Maybe five years plus before that level of access is allowed

You havent even been able hire and drive cross country unescorted until recently.

Wizzair have or are about to launch flights from Jeddah and Riyadh to LCA, OTP, BUD, VIE, FCO, MXP and VCE....from Riyadh they also offer NAP, CTA and SOF. You can make (not the best) connections from BHX via both OTP and BUD.
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Will be interesting to see how these pan out and if Wizz add more European destinations from Saudi. Their Middle Eastern network from AUH is quite substantial now but no flights yet AUH to Saudi.

Agreed, tourism is in its infancy in Saudi but compared to even just a couple of years ago it has come on leaps and bounds. It will never be a mass market bucket and spade destination but I have seen 7 and 14 day tours and Jeddah city breaks advertised in 2023 brochures from Trailfinders, Travelbag and Explore which I've never seen offered before.

For me it's just interesting that Saudi have put in for slots at BHX. It shows at least an interest in BHX, it's on their radar but whether it comes off for 2023 is very 50/50 IMO. One to watch with interest!

More like Neom Bay in 2024, along with LGW. With so much money flowing into the new resort it is going to happen. Turkey is playing a risky game with massive advertising yet courting Russian tourists via THY and allowing their old A340s to go to Iran. If the Turkish Lira goes pop it could all go wrong and the ones to gain I can see being Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt & Saudi.

Looks like EW to Stockholm won't resume. Guess competition from new Ryanair route hasn't helped. Just hope it stays with them now. And fingers crossed EW open up BER🤞

Hear hear for BER!! Am desperate for this route to re-start, from a purely personal perspective it would make my visits to see family so much easier than trudging to EMA, MAN or BRS (yes I know we have one stop services with LH, EW, AF etc but have you seen the prices?!? It is nearly always cheaper to fly direct with EZY or FR even including petrol and parking)

Think if I was going to Berlin I would look at flying to DUS then by ICE train. Until of course I could fly directly to BER.

DB ICE trains aren’t performing very well on reliability right now but that’s for debates in other transport style forums !

BTW Saudia operated a charter from Heathrow ( re-route of schedule Jeddah flight ) via Neom Bay this week for some high level tour industry bods!.

The DB isn't what it was 30 years ago, too many niggling delays, too many strikes, but still way more reliable than the UK excuse for a railway!!

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Emirates
 

And gone again:confused:. Lets hope an IT glitch but back showing as the B777.

Pete

Southwind Airlines summer 2023
 

This airline will be operating for TUI to Antalya with two flights showing, one on Saturday evening and one on Tuesday morning

They do have slots for a weekly Dalaman, but this is not showing on the TUI flight pages, so probably TUI Airlines operating instead now

Their fleet is currently A332/A321

Jon

TUI timetable showing 3 flights to Antalya, Tue 09:30 dept 08:30 arr, Sat & Sun, 20:30 dept, 19:30 arr, flights are due to be operated on a 737 Max, possibly TC-GRO which was due to have been YR-MXF for Blue Air.

EK40
 

Any idea why Emirates' afternoon flights tomorrow and Saturday are showing as cancelled on FR24? My Dad is due to fly on Sunday with them which has got me worrying now

Would never relay on the data from FR24, always best to check the airlines website or departing/arriving airports website for accurate information.

No cancelations on these Emirates flights, all should operate as normal, its very rare that Emirates ever cancel flights, if they do its usually weather related.

Thanks Matt

A388 now back in system from 01.07.23

GLA's A388 back from March !

indeed but....

a) GLA is only daily still - Our 2x B777 will still carry significantly more pax than a single A380 and
b) GLA is using the 3 Class A380, BHX will be using the 2 Class higher density A380 which are still being bought back into service which will take time....

Interestingly, i wonder if the new PE will be introduced into the 2 Class A380s.... would be good to have....

BHX - NAP with EZY now bookable twice weekly from 1st April, a route they had planned to operate pre COVID. Takes us to 11 routes with EZY this summer.

Really hoping we hear something from QR (DOH) and EW (BER) soon.

Article in Birmingham Mail about BHX expansion in S23, spokesperson quoted as saying further new routes and expansion to be announced

According to SeanM on Twitter, QR have not yet fully confirmed their S23 UK schedule due to slot issues in DOH, so there's still perhaps a hope for BHX-DOH to return?