Categories: Travel

Red Sea International Airport welcomes first overseas flight, sets sight on sustainable tourism, ET TravelWorld

Red Sea Global (RSG) has achieved a significant milestone with the launch of its first direct international flights to Red Sea International Airport (RSI), connecting the destination to the world. The new twice-weekly service, operated by flydubai, will commence from Dubai International (DXB) to RSI on April 18.

John Pagano, Group CEO at Red Sea Global, expressed excitement about this development, highlighting RSI’s potential to serve millions of guests annually and make Saudi Arabia a premier global tourism destination.

RSI, which has been servicing domestic flights since September 2023, is designed to provide seamless connectivity to The Red Sea. Luxury resorts like Six Senses Southern Dunes, The Red Sea, and St. Regis Red Sea Resort are already operational, with more set to open this year, including the Nujuma Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Shebara, and Desert Rock.

Abu Dhabi [UAE], His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, has approved the new Tourism Strategy 2030 for the emirate. Spearheaded by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), the ambitious blueprint signals a new era of expansion and strategic development in the travel and tourism sector.

Michael White, Chief Commercial Officer, Red Sea International Airport, emphasised RSI’s commitment to exceptional service and sustainability. The airport aims to become the first carbon-neutral airport in the Middle East, implementing innovative sustainability solutions across operations.Notably, RSI’s terminal design, set to open fully next year, features five ‘mini terminals’ to optimise energy use and reduce environmental impact. Sudhir Sreedharan, Senior Vice President, flydubai, highlighted the significance of flydubai becoming the first carrier to operate to RSI from the UAE, enhancing connectivity to The Red Sea’s resorts.

Looking ahead, The Red Sea destination envisions 50 resorts, 8,000 hotel rooms, and sustainable infrastructure such as solar farms and battery storage facilities. The commitment to sustainability and world-class amenities positions The Red Sea as a model for responsible and luxurious tourism.