9 November 2017
London, UNITED KINGDOM
Saudi Arabian Airlines (SAUDIA), the national carrier of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, was named the ‘Best UK Hajj Airline’ for the second consecutive year, at the ‘2017 UK Hajj and Umrah Excellence Awards’ held at the Montcalm Hotel in Central London.
The annual Gala event is hosted by the Council of British Hajjis UK (CBHUK) and honors travel providers that support the preparation, journey and overall experience for British hajjis travelling to the Land of the Two Holy Mosques to perform Hajj and Umrah.
SAUDIA was selected for the award amongst various international carriers offering services to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The other nominees in the category were: Egypt Air, Gulf Air, Etihad Airways and Turkish Airlines.
The distinctive Saudi hospitality, character and values can be experienced by guests from the moment they are onboard, from the designated prayer area; carefully selected entertainment options; and halal cuisine. SAUDIA provides a convenient air link directly providing UK Hajjis with nonstop services to Jeddah, the gateway to the Holy sites.
Over 25,000 thousand British Hajjis travel from the United Kingdom to Saudi Arabia this year.
In attendance to accept the award was the airline’s Vice President for Corporate Communications, Mr. Abdulrahman Altayeb as well as other airline senior executives.
Mr. Altayeb commented: “SAUDIA welcomes all guests on board as they travel for religious pilgrimage, as well as guests travelling onwards through the network to many destinations across Africa, Asia and within the Middle East region. With our state-of-the-art new aircraft and convenient connections, we look forward to showcasing the signature hospitality onboard, for all of our guests as they travel on their upcoming journeys.”
For the 2017 Hajj season, SAUDIA carried the highest number of passengers ever in the 72 year history of the airline. More than 1 million travelers chose SAUDIA to travel to Mecca via Jeddah, and with the airline’s growing new fleet and additional frequencies on existing routes, the carrier was able to cater to the growing demand for direct services.
The airline operates widebody aircraft between the United Kingdom and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Non-stop daily services to both Riyadh and Jeddah are operated from London Heathrow with a Boeing 777-300, in addition, a five-times-weekly is offered from Manchester to Jeddah with a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
SAUDIA currently flies to 89 destinations across four continents. The airline’s newest route is Baghdad, which launched on 30 October; the fifth new route of the year. Multan (Pakistan), Portsudan (Sudan), Mauritius, Trivandrum and Baghdad have all joined the global routemap within the last six months.