{"id":190464,"date":"2023-11-17T06:14:55","date_gmt":"2023-11-17T10:14:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/?p=190464"},"modified":"2023-11-17T06:14:55","modified_gmt":"2023-11-17T10:14:55","slug":"saudias-new-12-hour-flight-to-miami-barbados-and-antigua","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/saudias-new-12-hour-flight-to-miami-barbados-and-antigua\/","title":{"rendered":"Saudia\u2019s New 12-Hour Flight to Miami, Barbados and Antigua"},"content":{"rendered":"
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On Wednesday, November 15, 2023, a 12-hour test flight operated by SAUDIA (Saudi Arabian Airlines) took off in Antigua, flew to Barbados, and briefly stopped in Miami to pick up more Caribbean passengers, before flying non-stop to Riyadh. Passengers on the flight were numerous heads of State, Ministers of Tourism, among other ministers, and Caribbean dignitaries. Passengers left to attend the first CARICOM meeting in Saudi Arabia,\u00a0making history in Caribbean-Saudi relations<\/a>.<\/p>

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With state-owned\u00a0Riyadh Air\u2019s ambitious plans\u00a0<\/a>to become the largest airline in the region, once it is launched, Riyadh Air could become the first Middle East carrier to start commercial flights between Saudi Arabia and the Caribbean.<\/p>\n

\"saudia,Caricom,riyadh<\/figure>\n

Dr. Roosevelt Skerrit, the Prime Minister of Dominica, and Chairperson of CARICOM told attending media about this successful test of the first nonstop flight between the two regions, suggesting the possibility of direct upcoming commercial flights.<\/p>

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Saudi Arabian Airlines (SAUDIA) is the flag carrier for the Kingdom and is based in Jeddah. Riyadh Air will be the new National Airlines of Saudi Arabia based in Riyadh. Both independent airlines are owned by the Government of Saudi Arabia and are not seen as competitors.<\/p>\n

HE Khalid A. Al-Falih, the Minister of Investment for Saudi Arabia echoed the possibility of direct\u00a0flights\u00a0to the Caribbean region.<\/p>\n

This flight could become a gateway not only to the Caribbean but also to South America, the Dominican Prime Minister added.<\/p>\n

In addition, this flight could attract travelers from connecting points beyond Riyadh, such as in other Gulf countries, India, Asia, or Africa, according to Vijay Poonoosamy, the Mauritius-based chair of the\u00a0World Tourism Network<\/a>\u00a0Aviation Interest Group. Vijay was a former VP for Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways.<\/p>\n

Besides tourism, more topics discussed in Riyadh were climate change, renewable energy, finance, investments, education, and health.<\/p>\n

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The Ministry of Tourism in Saudi Arabia under the leadership of HE Minister Ahmed bin Aqil al-Khateeb, with the assistance of HE Gloria Guevara has been working to introduce a\u00a0Global Center for Climate Change<\/a>.<\/p>\n

HE Gloria Guevara told eTurboNews in March 2023: Saudi Arabia built a reputation for delivering and walking the walk, according to HE Gloria Guevara, overlooking the project. \u201cWe are laser-focused.\u201d<\/p>\n

The first day of round-table discussion was to deepen bilateral relations and facilitate new partnerships between CARICOM & the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.<\/p>\n

It was like music in the ear for Caribbean delegates when the Saudi Minister of Investment emphasized that the Caribbean is a high-priority economic investment and business opportunity for Saudi Arabia.<\/p>\n

From the Spirit of\u00a0Saudi Arabia to the Heartbeat of the World nonstop?<\/p>\n

Saudi Arabia will raise its previous 100 million visitors by 2030 target to 150 million, as kingdom officials said the old number is too low. With Caribbean and South American travelers, this may become a reality.<\/p>\n

<\/span>Saudi Tourists are the Highest Spenders<\/h3>\n

Saudi Arabian tourists are among the highest spenders in the world<\/a>. This was already reported on eTurboNews in 2012 and most likely has not changed.<\/p>\n

<\/span>No more US or Canadian Transit Visas to visit the Caribbean<\/h4>\n

Attracting Saudi visitors to the Caribbean, so they can arrive without having to go through the lengthy process of obtaining US or Canadian visas first to connect, such opportunities to increase spending and to become less dependent on the North American inbound market is an interesting prospect for tourism ministers attending the summit. Many ministers in the Caribbean had played with the idea of finding new inbound markets for tourism for some time.<\/p>\n

If Riyadh Air is planning to launch commercial flights in early 2025, the available time should be used to make the Caribbean more accessible for Saudi Tourists. Saudi Arabia may also have plans to also open its borders to visitors from Caribbean nations.<\/p>\n

<\/span>No advance VISA is required for Saudi Citizens to the following Caribbean Countries<\/h4>\n

Currently, only the following countries allow Saudi Arabian passport holders to arrive without a visa, or provide a visa at arrival.<\/p>\n