Nesma Airlines starts operations from Hail airport

The first flight operated by Nesma Airlines took off from Hail regional airport on Thursday after the company received national commercial air operation license from the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA).

Hamad Alkhemaish, the Director General of Northern Airports at GACA, explained that Nesma Airlines will make the city of Hail the center of its operations after it has been chosen to operate Hail as hub airport, which is a start of national project for hub airports.

This project aims to facilitate travel of citizens and residents alike throughout the Kingdom and to neighboring countries and to not totally rely on international airports.

Khemaish went on to say the Nesma flights will begin tomorrow through Hail Airport on an average of two round trips a day (Qaishumah – Tabuk) other destination will be gradually added on a weekly basis and will help connect all of the Kingdom regional airports with Hail Hub airport.

Flight frequency

He added that during the coming period Nesma will work on gradually increasing operating frequencies, stressing that other airliners will operate scheduled flights through Hail airport as usual. Eventually, the total number of flights at Hail Airport will reach 200 weekly flights.

For his part Faisal Alturki, the CEO of Nesma Air, said the airlines will operate one flight to Turaif, two flights to Qaisumah, two flights to Arar, two flights to Rafha, three flights to Aljouf, three flights to Tabuk, three flights to Qaseem, and four flights to Madinah.

Major cities such as Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam will also be included in the operation schedule to be announced in November.

The airport currently runs 83 weekly between local and international flights. The latest 2015 stats put the number of passengers at 801,000 annually, it is expected in 2016 for that number to reach 850,000 passengers, an increase of 7 percent.

This report was first published in Saudi Gazette on October 28, 2016