Saudi Arabian Airlines has resumed direct flights between Chennai and Jeddah, which were suspended in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 lockdown. After a four-year hiatus, the much-anticipated service has been reintroduced, with flights operating twice a week on Mondays and Wednesdays.
The first flight from Jeddah arrived in Chennai on Wednesday with 132 passengers, and 222 passengers boarded the return flight later that evening. The flight duration is approximately 5 hours and 30 minutes. There are plans to potentially expand the service to three days a week, including Fridays, due to strong demand, especially from travelers visiting the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah.