Wizz Air announces new London Gatwick-Jeddah route

Andras Rado, head of communications and government affairs, Wizz Air, and Kimmo Ruotsalainen, general manager of aviation business development, Jeddah Airports Company.
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Updated 15 September 2024
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Wizz Air announces new London Gatwick-Jeddah route

Wizz Air, Europe’s fastest-growing and most environmentally sustainable airline, has launched a new direct route between London Gatwick and Jeddah, starting on March 31, 2025. This new route underscores Wizz Air’s dedication to expanding its presence in Saudi Arabia, offering travelers more options and affordable fares. Tickets are now available on wizzair.com and the Wizz Air app, with prices starting from $116.99.
Wizz Air’s new London Gatwick to Jeddah route will operate daily all year round, connecting two vibrant cities. This strategic addition to Wizz Air’s network highlights the airline’s commitment to providing affordable and accessible travel options while strengthening ties between Saudi Arabia and the UK.

HIGHLIGHT

Over the past three years, Wizz Air has significantly increased its capacity in Saudi Arabia, introducing numerous new routes and enhancing travel options.

Over the past three years, Wizz Air has significantly increased its capacity in Saudi Arabia, introducing numerous new routes and enhancing travel options, while contributing to the country’s connectivity in line with Vision 2030 and following a partnership agreement with Saudi Tourism Authority to increase connectivity to Europe and boost inbound visitors.




Andras Rado, Head of Communications and Government Affairs, Wizz Air


This route is one of many offerings that will leverage the Airbus A321XLR’s extended range and efficiency, revolutionizing intercontinental travel and making it more accessible than ever before.
“The Airbus A321XLR is the most cost-efficient aircraft of its class and, given the enhanced range capability, it enables Wizz Air to connect the furthest destinations in its network and further expand it, connecting cultures and continents. We’re excited to unlock unbeatable fares for our customers on the newly announced route to London, while offering the most sustainable option for flying,” said Andras Rado, head of communications and government affairs, Wizz Air, during a press conference in Jeddah. “We are already flying several 5-6 hour long ultra-low-cost routes with great satisfaction to our customers, and the XLR (extra-long range) will extend our outstanding value proposition to 7–8-hour long flights.”

We’re excited to unlock unbeatable fares for our customers on the newly announced route to London.

Andras Rado, Head of Communications and Government Affairs, Wizz Air

The new aircraft type, a first in the region, is the most cost-effective in its class, more sustainable due to less fuel burn and designed to operate intercontinental flights of up to 7-8 hours, revolutionizing the long-haul travel market.
“We as an airport are delighted to offer affordable fares for our customers on the newly announced route to London Gatwick while providing the Wizz Air’s new route as an option for traveling to the UK,” said Kimmo Ruotsalainen, general manager of aviation business development, Jeddah Airports Company.
Wizz Air’s investment in Saudi Arabia includes the use of modern, fuel-efficient aircraft, contributing to more sustainable travel. The airline’s carbon intensity is estimated to be at least 30 percent lower than that of other carriers on the same routes, aligning with Wizz Air’s commitment to reducing its environmental footprint.
Since entering the Saudi market, Wizz Air has created more than 1,500 job opportunities in the associated industries.

 


Aramco Digital to launch National Industrial Network on 450 MHz band

Updated 12 January 2026
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Aramco Digital to launch National Industrial Network on 450 MHz band

Aramco Digital, the digital and technology arm of Aramco, is preparing to launch its National Industrial Network operating on the 450 MHz spectrum, a network designed to enable secure, resilient, and high-reliability industrial communications across Saudi Arabia. The network has been engineered as a mission-critical industrial infrastructure to deliver high levels of security, flexibility, and reliability to meet the needs of industrial sectors. It provides wide-area coverage with advanced protection standards, supporting operational environments that require continuous performance and dependable connectivity for critical facilities and assets.

“The National Industrial Network has been designed to support the advanced operational requirements of modern industrial environments, aimed at enhancing efficiency, strengthening business continuity, and enabling a new class of highly reliable industrial communications. Together with next-generation mission-critical smart radios, the network aims to help build a future-ready industrial infrastructure that enables real-time data insights, supports industrial digital transformation, and aligns with the ambitions of Saudi Vision 2030,” said Nabil Al-Nuaim, Aramco Digital CEO.

Unlike public networks, the National Industrial Network has been purpose-built for industrial environments, enabling connectivity for critical assets, supply chains, logistics operations, and autonomous mobility systems. The network seeks to elevate smart industrial services, supporting real-time monitoring, automation, enhanced safety, and higher operational efficiency across industrial sectors.

As part of the launch, Aramco Digital plans to introduce an integrated portfolio of industrial digital solutions powered by the 450 MHz network. These include specialized connectivity packages tailored to diverse sector needs, along with a new generation of mission-critical smart radios designed specifically for industrial operations. The devices combine rugged high-performance design and industrial safety compliance with advanced artificial intelligence capabilities, enhanced sensing technologies, extended battery life, and real-time on-device data processing, helping improve accuracy, safety, and operational continuity in complex environments.

The network has also been designed to support a wide spectrum of industrial IoT applications, including asset condition and performance monitoring, fleet tracking, air-quality and environmental sensing, intelligent video monitoring, smart metering, lighting and infrastructure control, as well as mobility and fleet-management solutions. These capabilities enhance operational transparency, automation, and efficiency across both industrial and public sectors.

The National Industrial Network aims to help establish a strong technological foundation for Saudi Arabia’s next industrial phase, contributing to the objectives of Vision 2030 by delivering highly reliable, nationwide industrial connectivity that enables automation, intelligence, and advanced digital services across vital sectors. By developing connectivity solutions aligned with the needs of modern industrial operations, Aramco Digital is helping shape the future of mission-critical digital infrastructure in the Kingdom, moving beyond traditional telecommunications to enable continuous interaction between devices, machines, and AI-powered systems, and strengthening real-time decision-making through edge processing.

The 450 MHz National Industrial Network represents more than an improvement in coverage or performance. It is a strategic step toward smarter, more autonomous, and technology-driven industrial ecosystems that enhance operational excellence and set a new benchmark for advanced digital infrastructure in Saudi Arabia.

With the accelerating pace of digital transformation in the Kingdom, secure and reliable connectivity has become a fundamental pillar in supporting operational requirements and driving economic growth. Organizations across various sectors— including industrial sectors and those enabling future economies — are increasingly relying on advanced connectivity solutions and technologies to enhance safety and reliability, improve operational efficiency, and unlock new horizons for sustainable economic development.