Saudi Arabian Airlines is partnering with Expedia Affiliate Network for the launch of Saudia Holidays.
The carrier hopes to offer tailored, world-class travel packages to its passengers.
Saudia, which carried more than 29 million passengers last year, and has a network of 86 domestic and international destinations, is launching Saudia Holidays to provide exceptional value and choice across the Kingdom and internationally.
Through the partnership, Saudia Holidays will offer guests access to more than 260,000 quality hotel accommodations in over 29,000 destinations, including Makkah, Jeddah, Riyadh, Dubai, London, Paris and New York.
It will access EAN’s full range of preferential rates and deals, creating competitive pricing for Saudia Holidays customers.
Saudia Holidays will also offer access to 30 quality car rental vendors across 30,000 locations, enabling passengers to select their ideal package of flight with hotel and/or vehicle.
The Saudia Holidays portfolio is tailored to Saudia’s understanding of its passengers’ needs and preferences for religious, leisure and business travel.
The new venture will broaden and deepen Saudia’s guest relationships and support Saudia Arabia’s Vision 2030 programme by spurring the development of the Kingdom’s tourism, both for Umrah visitors and those wishing to explore Saudi Arabia’s other attractions.
Saudi Arabian Airlines director general, Saleh bin Nasser Al Jasser said: “Saudia Holidays is a newly-launched specialised division in the airline’s Holding group that will offer our guests a comprehensive line-up of travel options.
“Tourism is a growing segment in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and as the national carrier, Saudia flies to four continents, and is well positioned to facilitate a travel solution that provides hospitality, lodging and air travel all in a one-stop solution conveniently available online.”
EAN was selected because of its worldwide accommodation portfolio, its dynamic packaging strengths and the flexibility of its technology, which includes the ability for customers to pay for a hotel reservation at the time of booking or upon arrival.
Also key was EAN’s ability to offer a fully outsourced, turnkey solution in collaboration with Bahrain-based travel technology and services specialist TCIG.
Together, the businesses’ responsibilities include building and maintaining the Saudia Holidays ecommerce website; the fulfilment of air, hotel and vehicle reservations; the operation of customer call centres; and the delivery of outstanding service to all Saudia Holidays customers.
Find out more about the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 plans as Breaking Travel News catches up with Saudia chief executive Jaan Albrecht at Arabian Travel Market:
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Source: Travel News