Monday, July 14, 2025
Saudi Arabia’s emblem bearer Saudia has decided to suspend its nonstop flights from Jeddah (JED) to Los Angeles (LAX) for nan upcoming wintertime season. The hose will region nan three-weekly work from 22 January to 12 May 2026 successful ray of traditionally debased aerial postulation request during nan period. The move is successful statement pinch earlier trends, erstwhile Saudia has scaled backmost its cognition during nan wintertime season. Let’s talk nan reasoning down this strategical move and nan implications for travelers.
Why Is Saudia Is Suspending The Route?
Saudia slashed flights betwixt Jeddah and Los Angeles temporarily arsenic nan hose continues to grapple pinch nan debased request to Saudi Arabia during nan wintertime months. February and March are traditionally slow months for aerial recreation astir nan world, and Saudia’s routes are nary different. The hose has been cutting flights to seasonal markets successful caller years. “The 3 play Jeddah-Los Angeles flights are moreover much unsustainable erstwhile load factors autumn that debased astatine this clip of nan year.”
In fact, Saudi only flew arsenic fewer arsenic 8 flights past wintertime successful February 2024 and nary much than 18 flights successful May 2024. Although that simplification successful flying appears to beryllium an operational move, it is important to statement that specified reductions correspond nan larger trends astatine play successful aerial recreation demand.
Breaking down nan route: The longest formation successful Saudia’s fleet
The 7,240 nautical-mile (13,409 km) ultra-long haul connects nan superior of nan occidental realm of Saudia pinch nan spot of nan world intermezo industry. This agelong haul travel usually takes 15 hours and 45 minutes, nevertheless nan clip quality is -1 hour.
This way is serviced by nan airline’s Boeing 777-300ERs. These planes tin return much than 405 passengers, depending connected nan configuration. Saudia’s 37 777-300ERs are each connected average, conscionable nether 11 years old, truthful that nan hose it is capable to proceed serving its agelong haul destinations pinch dependable aircraft.
Even pinch an craft offering nan magnitude of seats it does nan absurdly agelong flying clip and region progressive makes this way a very mediocre usage of Saudia’s resources, particularly since they are coming successful wintertime erstwhile location is acold little request and frankincense much difficult to make a profit connected nan route.
Saudia’s Winter Changes: What to Consider Beforehand
Saudia’s determination to suspend nan Jeddah to Los Angeles way is portion of nan airline’s emblematic wintertime schedule, wherever it ceases flights temporarily to definite world destinations pinch comparatively little rider demand. Saudia has made these changes before, and it’s not apt to beryllium its last. For example, successful 2023, nan airline’s load facet was poor, pinch a debased level successful February and March, only 64% successful February, 70% successful March and again from April falling to 52%.
These numbers, some lines aliases moving average, are a foray into nan world that nan world aviation has been facing due: this is nan post-holiday period of nan wintertime period, and galore group chose shorter (cheaper)s flights – not agelong haul flights. This intends that caller entrants successful this marketplace will request to rationalize their routes, if they are not to suffer an uneconomical beingness during nan disconnected season.
Beyond: New Lines and Future Hopes
Saudia is paring down nan Jeddah-Los Angeles work but besides increasing successful different parts of its way network. One of these, is its work resumption connected Dammam (DMM) – London Heathrow (LHR). The way will return connected nan 5th of November 2025, and will person a three-times-per-week wave utilizing Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft.
The finance successful nan Boeing 787 by Saudia is not mini either. And pinch 19 787-9s and 8 787-10s already operating, nan hose is group for moreover much maturation pinch 18 much 787-9s and 21 787-10s connected bid to subordinate nan fleet successful nan adjacent fewer years. Its agelong haul marketplace offering will beryllium enhanced pinch these additions arsenic good arsenic being beryllium much elastic successful responding to changes successful nan market.