Official: Qatar’s Al Maha Airways to launch in Saudi by year-end

Qatar’s national carrier is expected to finally begin operating its new venture in Saudi Arabia by the end of this year, according to an official with Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA).

That’s almost two years behind schedule, but months ahead of the last estimated beginning date.

Al Maha Airways, along with fellow fledgling airline Saudi Gulf (a spinoff of Bahrain-based Gulf Air), were awarded the right to operate within the kingdom in December 2012, as part of a plan to meet rising domestic aviation demand there.

The carriers were due to start operations in September 2014, with initial routes to include Jeddah, Riyadh, Dammam, Madinah, Abha and Qassim, but hit licensing problems last year.

Earlier this year, Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker said the airline may not be up and running until summer 2016, adding: “We expect to have a six-to-18-month waiting period before the operation starts.”
 
 
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Source News: Doha News
Photo: Al Maha Airways