The recently launched aggressive marketing strategy of King Fahd International Airport (KFIA) is attracting more international and regional airlines to use its facilities. The airport has improved its facilities in the terminal building as well as in the airfield and apron areas, officials have said. The first new airline to operate from KFIA in 2012 is the Ethiopian Airlines (ET), which is inaugurating its flight on Feb. 3. “We are delighted to operate from KFIA three times a week, from Dammam to Addis Ababa using B737-700/800 aircraft,” said Redi Yesuf, Regional Director of ET, after meeting officials of KFIA. Yesuf was given a tour and viewing of the airport facilities. He said the airline has already started selling tickets for the inaugural flight on Feb. 3. The establishment of direct air link between Ethiopia and the Kingdom via KFIA in Dammam, Eastern Province will further boost trade and investment cooperation between Ethiopia and Saudi Arabia. Several regional airlines have signified plans to start operating from KFIA, while others are increasing the frequency of their flight to and from the airport.. RAK Airways, the national airline of Ras Al Khaimah, filed last Nov. 11, 2011 its application to fly from KFIA. RAK will start its operation from KFIA once the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) approves it. Other regional airlines mounting additional flights from KFIA are Jet Airways, India's low-budget carrier, Shaheen Air of Pakistan, and Air Arabia, the first low-cost airline in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Industry sources said that KFIA is attracting more regional and international airlines to fly via Dammam due to the instability Bahrain faced in recent times. __
