China Southern launches new flights connecting Beijing with Riyadh

Image credit: James D. Morgan/ Getty Images

China Southern Airlines has launched new direct flights connecting Beijing Daxing and Saudi Arabia’s capital city Riyadh, further strengthening the bilateral ties between the two countries.

“The new route is an important manifestation of the deepening cooperation between China and Saudi Arabia in the economic, trade, cultural and tourism fields,” said Zhang Dongsheng, deputy director general of the Commercial Steering Committee of China Southern.

The first flight operated by a Chinese airline follows the launch of direct flights connecting Riyadh and Jeddah with the Chinese capital Beijing by the kingdom’s flag carrier, Saudia, in August 2023.

The Beijing Daxing-Riyadh flights operate every Tuesday and Saturday. The Riyadh-bound flight CZ5077 departs from Beijing Daxing International Airport at 15:10 Beijing time and arrives at King Khalid International Airport at 20:10 KSA time.

The new routes, which were launched in partnership with the kingdom’s Air Connectivity Programme (ACP), will reinforce the country’s commitment to boost the growth of the travel and aviation sectors.

@CSAIRGlobal inaugural flight landed yesterday evening in #Riyadh, marking the beginning of a new era of air connectivity between #China and #SaudiArabia. The Kingdom has opened its doors for our visitors to step in and discover its hidden treasures. pic.twitter.com/RQDLxOOgJb

— ACP | برنامج الربط الجوي (@ACP_Saudi) April 17, 2024

“This flight further strengthens the bridge between Saudi Arabia and China. We are excited about the prospects our collaboration with China Southern brings and the lasting connections it will create,” said Majid Khan, CEO of Saudi Arabia’s ACP.

China is a priority growth market for ACP, which focuses on broader tourism considerations, including the overall travel experience and the quality of airport facilities.

Chinese companies made more direct investments in Saudi Arabia in 2023 than ever before, according to fDi Markets as the kingdom accelerates its ambitious economic diversification agenda.

Between January and September 2023, a record 21 greenfield projects were announced by Chinese businesses in Saudi Arabia worth an estimated $16.2bn, up from eight projects a year earlier and higher than any previous full-year period.

During the 10th Arab-China Business Conference in June 2023, $10bn investment agreements were signed on the first day of the business conference in Riyadh across different industries including technology, renewable energy, agriculture, real estate, metals, tourism and healthcare.

These include a $5.6bn (SAR21bn) agreement between Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Investment and Chinese electric car maker Human Horizons to set up an automotive research, development, manufacturing, and sales joint venture.

Read: Saudia launches flights connecting Riyadh, Jeddah with Beijing