Red Sea International Airport to receive its first flight from Dubai

Image credit: Red Sea Global

Red Sea Global (RSG), the developer behind regenerative tourism destinations The Red Sea and AMAALA, is preparing to receive its inaugural international flight at the Red Sea International Airport (RSI).

The landmark flight will take place on April 18.

Scheduled to arrive from Dubai International (DXB), the flight operated by flydubai marks the commencement of a new twice-weekly route to The Red Sea destination.

Red Sea ready to receive visitors

This development follows the successful operation of regular domestic flights by Saudia since September 2023. With the addition of flydubai, there will now be a total of eight flights per week to RSI.

John Pagano, group CEO at Red Sea Global, expressed enthusiasm for this momentous occasion, stating, “Situated within three hours flying time of 250 million people, RSI will serve one million guests a year at full capacity.” He further emphasised the significance of this achievement in positioning Saudi Arabia as a premier global tourism destination.

RSI, strategically located to facilitate seamless travel to The Red Sea, will serve as an essential hub for connectivity, benefiting employees, partners, and the local community at large, said Red Sea Global in its statement.

Sudhir Sreedharan, senior vice president of flydubai, highlighted the airline’s commitment to expanding connectivity and offering passengers direct access to The Red Sea destination. He said, “flydubai becomes the first carrier to operate to Red Sea International from the UAE, offering passengers direct access to Saudi Arabia’s resorts at The Red Sea destination. This underscores our commitment to opening up underserved markets and further connecting the regions we operate to via Dubai’s aviation hub.”

Looking ahead, three additional resorts are poised to open this year, including the highly anticipated Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, featuring opulent overwater villas, and Desert Rock, a magnificent resort nestled amidst picturesque mountains.

Focus on sustainability

Michael White, chief commercial officer of Red Sea International Airport, said he looks forward to the next phase of RSI’s development as the team is committed to delivering exceptional services to passengers and airlines. “The arrival of international travelers represents an exciting next phase in RSI’s development, following our first domestic flights touching down in September last year.”

“We are committed to providing exceptional services to passengers and airlines alike and we look forward to further expanding our network to serve The Red Sea and travellers from around the world.”

The airport’s terminal, scheduled for full completion next year, boasts an innovative design comprising five ‘mini terminals,’ allowing for flexible operation based on demand, thereby reducing energy consumption.

RSI aims to become the first carbon-neutral airport in the Middle East. Green initiatives include 100 per cent renewable energy for the building to meet minimum LEED Gold Certification standard, and minimising light pollution to meet the Dark Sky Guidelines.

The Red Sea, envisioned to comprise 50 resorts and an array of recreational facilities upon full completion in 2030, represents a significant step towards realising Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 initiative.

Red Sea Global, wholly owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia, spearheads these ambitious projects, driving economic growth, fostering innovation, and creating lasting positive impacts for communities and the environment.