
Saudia launches its seasonal flights from Jeddah to Vienna
Jeddah: Saudia, the national flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, has inaugurated its seasonal flight to Vienna, the capital of Austria, departing from Jeddah. This new route is part of Saudia's commitment to enhancing its presence in Europe and providing more options for guests while bringing the world to the Kingdom.
The inaugural flight SV151 departed from King Abdulaziz International Airport at 10:00 AM and arrived at Vienna International Airport at 2:25 PM local time. The airline is dedicated to delivering exceptional travel experiences, streamlining procedures, and ensuring guests enjoy every aspect of their journey.
The Jeddah-Vienna route will operate three flights weekly on Airbus A320 aircraft. This new destination is an addition to Saudia's network of over 100 destinations across four continents, supporting national efforts to grow tourism, entertainment, sports, and religious travel, including Hajj and Umrah.
Further strengthening connectivity, Saudia will introduce flights from flights from King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh to Vienna starting June 2025.
About Saudia:
Saudia (Saudia Airlines) is the national flag carrier of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Established in 1945, the company has grown to become one of the Middle East's largest airlines.
Saudia has invested significantly in upgrading its aircraft and currently operates one of the youngest fleet, with 144 aircraft. The airline serves an extensive global route network covering around 100 destinations across four continents, including all 28 domestic airports in Saudi Arabia.
A member of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the Arab Air Carriers Organization (AACO), Saudia has also been a member airline in SkyTeam, the second largest alliance, since 2012.
Saudia was recently awarded the "World Class Airline 2025" for the fourth consecutive year at The APEX Official Airline Ratings™ awards. Saudia has also advanced 11 places in the Skytrax airlines ranking of the World Best Airlines 2023. The Airline also ranked top among global airlines for best on-time performance (OTP) according to a report by Cirium.
For more information on Saudia, please visit www.saudia.com
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Khaleej Times
3 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
Pakistan PM Sharif meets Saudi Crown Prince, wishes him on Eid
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during his official visit to the Kingdom on the occasion of Eid ul Adha. The two leaders discussed regional developments and ways to strengthen economic cooperation. The meeting took place at Mina Palace, where both sides emphasised the importance of deepening bilateral ties, particularly in trade, investment, and development aligned with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 and Pakistan's economic goals. 'I was honoured to meet my dear brother, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, on this blessed occasion,' Sharif said in a post on X. 'I conveyed the heartiest Eid greetings on behalf of the people of Pakistan and expressed our deep appreciation for the Kingdom's positive and constructive role during the recent Pakistan-India crisis, which led to the ceasefire understanding,' he added. The Saudi Crown Prince praised Pakistan's role in supporting regional peace and also acknowledged efforts made during the Hajj season. 'We commend the continuous efforts made by you, those working across various government sectors, and the male and female volunteers in implementing the state's policies to enable pilgrims to complete their rituals in security and tranquility,' Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said.


Khaleej Times
5 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
Inside Saudi's Hajj-only barbershop, shaving thousands of heads in a day
Near the holy city of Makkah, men in white robes stand quietly in a long queue, waiting for the next important act of their Hajj pilgrimage: a haircut. Shaving or cutting the hair comes near the end of the Hajj, and marks the moment when pilgrims can change out of the Ihram clothing that signifies purity and devotion. The barbershop, strategically positioned by the Jamarat complex in Mina, where the "stoning of the devil" ritual took place on Friday, opens exclusively for the annual Hajj and does a roaring trade. On the pilgrimage's last day, which coincides with the major festival of Eid Al Adha, its barbers typically handle 6,000 customers, said manager Imad Fawzi, an official employed by the Hajj organisation. Inside, men in plastic aprons wield electric clippers and cut-throat razors, shearing scalps on an industrial scale for 60 riyals ($13) a time. Despite the rush — there are so many customers that an usher is required — Ahmed, a 28-year-old barber from Egypt, is happy in his work. "This is a very simple thing to do, but it brings us so much joy," he says. Fawzi, who grew up in Makkah, called himself a "child of the Hajj". "I've been working in Hajj since I was seven," he says. 'This outfit is exhausting' The once-a-year hairdresser's is not the only place for a cut: parts of Makkah and the plain of Mina, on its outskirts, turn into an open-air barbershop at this stage of the Hajj. Leaving the Jamarat, a Southeast Asian man took out a razor and started scraping the back of his head as he walked. Further down the street, a group of African men were shaving each other with clippers. In Mecca, entire streets are lined with barbershops doing brisk business. While men shave their hair, women trim theirs by a fingertip-length. About 1.6 million pilgrims have gathered in and around Mecca, Islam's holiest city, for this year's Hajj, which all Muslims with the means must complete at least once. Outside the Jamarat hairdresser's, Hani Abdel Samih is looking forward to changing out of the wrap-around skirt and shawl he has been wearing for the past three days. "The stoning of the devil at Jamarat requires great effort and we've been wearing these clothes all day," he said. "We wanted to wear our everyday clothes and be comfortable, so we went to the nearest barbershop we could find after the Jamarat," said the Egyptian. Yet his face is beaming with joy. He said he does not mind the wait for a haircut that bears a special place in his spiritual journey. "I'm excited, of course! Because this is Sunnah from the Prophet, peace be upon him," he said, referring to the teachings of the Prophet Mohammed. "We like (this ritual) and we cannot break it," he said. The Hajj retraces the Prophet's last pilgrimage, with rites at Makkah's Grand Mosque and Mount Arafat before "stoning the devil" — throwing pebbles at three giant walls at Jamarat.


Khaleej Times
12 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
Hajj pilgrim turnout lowest in 3 decades, excluding Covid years
More than 1.6 million Muslims are performing the sacred Hajj pilgrimage this year - with majority of them from outside Saudi Arabia, according to the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. The figures mark the lowest number of pilgrims in over three decades, according to AFP. They do not, however, include the years of Covid restrictions from 2020-2022, when only a limited number of attendees were allowed out of concern for the health and safety of the pilgrims. Prior to the pandemic, Hajj attendance would regularly exceed 2 million. Official figures noted 1.8 million Muslims took part in the Hajj last year. Meanwhile, the record for the highest turnout was set in 2012 when 3.16 million pilgrims took part. A total of 1,673,230 male and female pilgrims from all around the world stood on the sacred plains of Arafat and performed the rituals of Hajj 1446 AH with #Ease_And_Tranquility. — Ministry of Hajj and Umrah (@MoHU_En) June 5, 2025 Stricter rules Hajj permits are allocated to countries on a quota basis and distributed to individuals by a lottery system. Authorities in Saudi have been working to ensure the highest standards of health and safety for those who undertake the pilgrimage, considered one of the five pillars of Islam. Higher penalties have been imposed this year for anyone attempting to perform Hajj without a permit, including fines of up to 20,000 Saudi Riyals, arrest, and deportation. The kingdom also suspended short-term visas for 14 countries earlier this year, and security personnel can be seen across holy sites like Makkah. Despite these stringent measures, the high costs of Hajj packages see many continue to attempt to enter the country illegally. More than 50 expats were arrested on June 4 for trying to sneak into Makkah on foot. Climate impact This year's Hajj saw authorities also implementing a range of heat mitigation efforts, from expanding shaded areas to deploying over 400 cooling units. The measures are aimed at preventing a repeat of last year's Hajj that saw 1,301 people die in temperatures that hit 51.8°C. Saudi authorities said a majority of those deaths were among pilgrims who slipped into Makkah illegally and lacked access to accommodation and other services aimed to keep pilgrims safe and protected from the searing desert heat. This year's turnout underscores the ongoing efforts to balance the spiritual significance of the pilgrimage with necessary health, safety, and regulatory measures. Pilgrims continue to embrace this sacred journey, and authorities remain committed to ensuring a safe and meaningful experience for all who participate.