Direct Toronto-Saudi Arabia Flights Through Saudia Airlines Launched

Effective Oct 28, 2013, Canadians heading for pilgrimage, expatriates and even students may now fly direct to Saudi Arabia.

The oil-rich kingdom's national airline Saudia Airlines, on its Web site, said it will start flying on the Toronto-Jidda-Riyadh sector by end October, three times a week on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Although the target launch may no longer be applicable to this year's hajj pilgrimage season, it will nonetheless serve Canadian pilgrims out to perform their umrah at Saudi Arabia. The umrah is considered as the minor pilgrimage which can be performed at any time of a particular year.

According to the Canadian Press, an estimated 3,400 Canadians performed the hajj in 2012, while another 4,000 observed the umrah.

But figures are expected to slide down in 2013 after Saudi Arabia instituted measures to curb the influx of pilgrims into the country following the still uncontained spread of the Middle East Respiratory Virus.

Saudia Airlines becomes the fourth Gulf airline offering flights to Canada. The first three are Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways. Emirates and Etihad fly three times a week to Toronto, while Qatar Airways has three flights a week to Montreal.

With the additional number of carriers, Canada expects more Saudi students possibly entering to study in its shores.

Quoting figures from the Citizenship and Immigration Canada, the Canadian Press said more than 14,000 Saudi students enrolled in various Canadian educational institutions in 2012.