British Airways is believed to have held discussions with Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea International Airport with a view to launching direct flights from London.
Currently, there are no non-stop flights from the UK to Red Sea International, the closest airport to a new luxury resort area, The Red Sea, being developed along Saudi Arabia’s western coastline.
To access The Red Sea, British guests must fly via Dubai or Doha in Qatar, or from Jeddah, 500km south, or Riyadh in Saudi Arabia.
“BA is talking about flying direct to Red Sea International,” said Sebastien Carre, Group Head of Hospitality at Red Sea Global, which currently owns and operates five luxury hotels: Desert Rock, Shebara, Thuwal, Triple Bay, and Turtle Bay.
“It is definitely under discussion,” added Sebastian. “BA was waiting for more rooms to open, but now there is a critical mass.”
Premium leisure airline beOnd launched the first direct flights between Red Sea International and Europe in mid-November, with a twice-weekly service to Milan.
By 2030, The Red Sea will comprise 50 resorts, more than 8,000 hotel keys, and over 1,000 residential properties, complemented by luxury marinas, golf courses, and leisure facilities.
Sebastien believes Saudi’s new upscale beach resorts will lure British holidaymakers from Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada on the opposite side of the Red Sea in Egypt.
“It is a very short flight and offers guaranteed sun all year round,” he said. “Saudi’s coastline is pristine, that’s not the case in Egypt because Egypt has developed mass tourism.
“In Saudi Arabia, the Government has taken a bit of an extreme view on conservation; it is looking for quality, responsible tourism.
“I think we will also take market share from the Maldives, because it is a much shorter flight.”
Currently, the majority of visitors to The Red Sea, which opened in 2023, are from the Gulf region, but Sebastian expects it to attract more Europeans as more hotels open.
“I would not be surprised if we had an easyJet flight soon, it is a possibility,” he added.
