Saudi Airlines has established a new route between Riyadh and Jeddah on one hand and Hyderabad, India, on the other, starting from 29 March 2005. This brings to five the number of SAUDIA air routes linking Saudi Arabia with Bombay, Madras, Koshen and Delhi. Director General of Saudi Airlines Khalid bin Baker said that the decision was taken after the number of travelers from India to the Kingdom and vice versa dramatically increased to 548,973 passengers during the year 2004.