British Airways is bringing Jeddah back on its route map. The carrier will resume flights from London Heathrow to the Middle Eastern route on November 4, 2024, after a five-year hiatus. This restored connection aims to strengthen ties between the UK and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, just in time for the winter travel season.
Service Details
The revived service will see flights departing from Heathrow four times a week on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Passengers can expect a nighttime journey eastbound, leaving London at 20:10 on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, reaching Jeddah at the early hour of 05:30.
The return flights from Jeddah will take off at 07:55 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, completing the journey back to London by 11:45. This schedule integrates with British Airways' existing daily operations to Riyadh.
British Airways
Direction | Departure Days | Departure Time | Arrival Time |
Heathrow to Jeddah | Mon, Tue, Thu, Sat | 20:10 | 05:30 (next day) |
Jeddah to Heathrow | Tue, Wed, Fri, Sun | 07:55 | 11:45 |
- Passenger1
The route's reintroduction was announced at the GREAT FUTURES expo in Riyadh, an event meant to drive business engagements between the UK and Saudi Arabia.
Colm Lacy, British Airways Chief Commercial Officer, highlighted the airline's long-standing role in connecting the two regions, saying, “For years, we've bridged connections between families, friends, and businesses across both countries. The renewed flights signify our commitment to reinforcing these bonds and seizing business opportunities across the two nations.”
Future Prospects
British Airways is re-entering a competitive market as it shares the skies with Saudi Arabia’s flag carrier, Saudi Airlines, which also serves routes from Jeddah to various cities in the UK, including Manchester, Birmingham, and Gatwick.
As BA reintroduces its service to Jeddah, it faces the challenge of distinguishing its offerings in a market where Saudi Airlines has already established a strong presence. This competition may drive the carrier to improve service quality or introduce competitive pricing and promotions on BA reward flights.
Final Thoughts
The return of British Airways flights between Heathrow and Jeddah opens new doors to use Avios points for flights. Travellers can now book Business or Economy class BA reward flights with Avios, which will help BA regain market share on this competitive route. With the potential to secure long-haul travel at great value comparative to cash fares, the route will likely attract high demand. Make sure to note seat release dates and peak times to secure the best seats.
The Jeddah route is back
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