Shanghai – The CEO of the Air Connectivity Program (ACP), Mr. Majid Khan, participated in the Airports Council International (ACI) Asia-Pacific & Middle East Air Service Development Conference held recently in Shanghai.
During the conference, Mr. Khan participated in a fireside chat titled “Strengthening Air Connectivity Between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the People’s Republic of China,” highlighting the vast opportunities for collaboration between ACP and airlines across Asia and China. He also emphasized the Kingdom’s national tourism strategy, the depth of Saudi culture, and the many ways Asian and Chinese tourists can easily explore Saudi Arabia.
As part of the official visit, Mr. Khan met with Mr. Liu Tiexiang, President of China Eastern Airlines, to discuss ways to enhance cooperation and develop air routes between the Kingdom and China. The meeting focused on increasing direct connectivity and facilitating travel between the two countries.
China Eastern Airlines, in collaboration with the Air Connectivity Program, has witnessed notable growth over the past year. The airline launched direct flights between Shanghai and Riyadh with three weekly services and recently expanded to six weekly flights. ACP looks forward to expanding this partnership by increasing flight frequencies and launching new routes to additional Saudi cities, as part of its broader efforts to boost inbound tourism and build strategic air links with key global markets.
The Air Connectivity Program aims to drive tourism growth in Saudi Arabia by developing current air routes and establishing new international destinations, connecting the world to the Kingdom. As a key enabler of both the National Tourism Strategy and the National Aviation Strategy, ACP plays a pivotal role in fostering collaboration and partnerships between public and private sector stakeholders across the tourism and aviation ecosystems, positioning Saudi Arabia as a leading global destination for air connectivity.
