JEDDAH: Travel agents are confused over the announcement by National Air Services (NAS) that its all-business-class carrier Kayala would suspend flights from April 1.
Amro El-Ghandour, business development manager at Jeddah’s Al-Attar Travel, said he finds it hard to believe that Kayala would be suspending the popular Jeddah-Riyadh route and that the announcement left some questions for agents.
“It is not clear what routes will be suspended,” he said. “I don’t believe the Jeddah-Riyadh route will be suspended.” Other travel agents that spoke to Arab News yesterday say they have not received any notices from NAS about the suspension of Kayala flights. On Tuesday, NAS CEO Sulaiman Abdullah Al-Hamdan announced the suspension of Kayala flights due to mounting costs and decreasing demand.
El-Ghandour said demand for Jeddah-Riyadh flights on this premium carrier is high, and that without Kayala operating this route, the only choice for business-class travelers would be to book business class on Saudia.
Kayala flies to Dubai and Beirut year round and Sharm El-Shiekh and Cairo seasonally.