The General Authority for Civil Aviation gave authorization to the airline to start operating three times a week between Alexandria and Jeddah on Sunday, Wednesday and Friday.

The airplane, carrying 140 passengers, was welcomed by officials and representatives of GACA and Nile Air.

GACA spokesman Khaled Al-Khaibari said permission could be given to other airlines to start landing at different airports in the Kingdom.

“This step will positively affect the aviation industry and increase the number of visitors and improve the development of the tourism and economic sectors,” he said.

“It will also improve competitiveness which will benefit passengers. This licensing will create more job opportunities and improve trading between the two countries.”

General Manager of Nile Air Yousuf Ghasim said the company was looking forward to increasing the number of flights and destinations and fly to more Saudi airports.

Jeddah, he pointed out, is an important destination being the gate of the two holy mosques and therefore key to the Haj and Umrah seasons.

“This helps attract more passengers and provides an opportunity to offer distinguished services at competitive prices,” added Ghasim.

GACA has lately licensed a number of other airlines to start landing at different cities, including Jeddah, Yanbu and Buraidah (Qassim).

The companies include Ras Al-Khaima Airways, which operates between Jeddah and Ras Al-Khaima four times a week.

Another license was given to the Jordanian company Royal Falcon which operates between Amman and Jeddah.

The Turkish airline AtlasJet operates between Istanbul and Jeddah, while Almasria Universal Airlines flies from Alexandria to Jeddah, Qassim, Abha and Yanbu.

Nile Air flies to Qassim and Jeddah and will soon land at Tabuk airport.

Al-Khaibari said the routes between Egypt and the Kingdom transports over 3 million passengers annually.

The number of flights arriving from Egypt to the Kingdom is among the highest, with Egypt Air sending 68 flights to Jeddah, 25 to Riyadh and 17 to Dammam a week. It also flies to Madinah during peak seasons. The two new Egyptian private airlines plan to increase their flights.