Saudi Vision 2030, a government initiative, intends to diversify the economy of the kingdom away from oil and gas. As a result, one of the objectives is to increase tourism’s contribution to GDP to 10% by the end of this decade by welcoming over 100 million people yearly. The Saudi Arabian travel industry is in a strong place right now for the government support and investment.
In addition to approving the Riyadh Air airline and its initial order of 39 Boeing 787 Dreamliners (with options for 33 more), the government has also established a subsidised program for other airlines, like Wizz Air, to boost travel to and from the Kingdom.
As reported by Zawya on Thursday, NEOM Airlines, a carrier intended to serve the projected megacity of NEOM, would commence operations at the end of the fourth quarter of 2024.
Klaus Goersch, a former Chief Operational Officer of British Airways and Air Canada, will serve as the Chief Executive Officer of the envisioned airline. On the project’s website, he made remarks on the expected debut and the “two-step method” in its development.
” NEOM’s resorts will be going live in early 2024, so we need to service that demand quickly, initially retrofitting existing aircraft with existing technology. But come 2026 onwards, there will be new innovative aircraft – whether it be electric, hydrogen-powered or supersonic – and next-generation interiors coming online from us. We are already in discussions with plane, interior, and seat manufacturers.”
The emphasis will be on digitalization, innovation, and sustainability, much like it is for the location the airline plans to fly to. NEOM says it aims to, eventually, “elevate every single touch point” with an immersive and digitally enhanced experience that will begin long before you board the plane. Goersch added the following:
“Other airlines are focused on the trip because they don’t participate in the front end or the back end of the trip. For us, things will be different. The Gulf airlines have done this to a degree, but we will take it to a new level. Without Emirates, for example, there wouldn’t be a Dubai right? Be ready for a completely different travel experience.”
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