On June 3, China Southern Airlines officially launched a direct flight route from Shenzhen to Riyadh.
This is Shenzhen’s first direct flight to Riyadh and its fifth direct flight to the Middle East, following routes to Cairo, Dubai, Tel Aviv, and Tehran. The Shenzhen-Riyadh route is scheduled to operate on Mondays and Fridays, with a flight time of approximately 9 hours and 30 minutes, using an Airbus A330.
The inaugural flight carried over 200 passengers, with a load factor exceeding 80%. The primary passenger demographics included business travelers, laborers, and tourists. To mark the occasion, the airline provided commemorative gifts and local Riyadh delicacy dates to the passengers.
The launch of the Shenzhen-Riyadh route enhances transportation for trade exchanges between China and Saudi Arabia and offers new transfer opportunities for international travelers. A significant proportion of the overseas passengers traveling to Riyadh are from Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia. The new route will better meet the transfer needs of travelers from these countries.