Saudi Arabian Airlines (SAA) direct flights from Abha to Cairo and back will start in two weeks, it was announced here Friday. According to Saeed Al-Furayeh, General Manager for Passenger Services and Sales in the Southern region, the new air route connecting Abha regional airport directly to Cairo airport and back will be made operational starting from the beginning of the new year. Earlier in May, Khaled Al-Mohlem, SAA Director General, said the route would enable people in the Asir region and neighboring areas to travel easily to Egypt and to receive travelers from there. The region's general manager added that there will be four direct air flights to and from Cairo. “Passengers can choose to travel to Cairo from Abha airport on either Thursdays or Sundays of every week at 8.30 A.M.,” he said. He added that there would be two more flights from Cairo International Airport to Abha regional Airport on the same days but at different times. “Cairo flights will arrive in Abha at 11.15 P.M. on Thursdays and Sundays,” he said. Al-Furayeh pointed out that SAA noticed the increasing demand for flights on that air route. Thus, it decided to increase its flights to 35 during the period June to October this year. “These flights have transported about 7,242 passengers. They have helped us offer better services to both citizens and residents of the Asir region and its neighboring areas,” Al-Furayeh said. According to Al-Furayeh, Abha airport achieved an increase in the number of its passengers during the period January to November 2009 registering a seven percent increase compared to the same period in 2008.
