Korean Air reopens direct air route to Saudi Arabia

South Korean national flag carrier Korean Air recently announced the reopening of the direct air route to Saudi Arabia. According to the airline, the route between the two countries has been opened for the first time in 15 years. Korean Air flights to Riyadh were suspended in 1997 after the so-called “Middle East boom” ended for the South Korean construction firms.

The airline in a statement said that the relaunching of direct flights services between Seoul’s Incheon International Airport and Riyadh International Airport signifies the strengthening of economic ties between South Korea and Saudi Arabia. The Seoul-Riyadh flights will also link the port city of Jeddah.

The airline stated that it will be operating flights between the two countries with the help of the newly-acquired Airbus A330-200 aircraft. The flights will be operated thrice every week.

Recently, Saudi Arabia has emerged as South Korea’s fourth-largest trading partner. The other trading partners include China, the United States and Japan.