Saudia Airlines to Launch Abuja-Jeddah Flights in December

Saudia Airlines, the national carrier of Saudi Arabia, is set to begin operations between Abuja and Jeddah on December 1, 2026. The announcement was made by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development following Saudi Arabia’s 96th National Day celebration in Abuja, where the Saudi ambassador to Nigeria, Yousef Bin Mohammed Al-Balawi, revealed the new service.

Saudia plans to operate the Jeddah-Abuja route three times weekly using an Airbus A321XLR, with an increase to four weekly flights from February 10 to March 9, 2027. The service will connect Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja directly with Jeddah, providing a travel option for Nigerians for pilgrimage and business.

The current flight schedule includes flight SV337 departing Jeddah at 8:45 am and arriving in Abuja at 1:05 pm, with the return flight SV336 leaving Abuja at 2:40 pm and arriving in Jeddah at 9:55 pm. The initiative is part of broader efforts to enhance Nigeria-Saudi Arabia relations beyond cultural links, with Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris highlighting potential cooperation in various sectors.