Premium leisure airline Beond has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Saudi Arabia’s Air Connectivity Program (ACP) to explore all-premium, nonstop flights between Red Sea International Airport and five major European cities.
Signed July 22 at the Farnborough Airshow, the agreement outlines plans for direct routes connecting the Red Sea destination with London, Paris, Milan, Munich and Zurich.
ACP executive committee chairman Abdulaziz Al-Duailej said the proposed routes would give travelers from key European markets direct access to the Red Sea destination, stimulating tourism growth and reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s positioning as a premium global travel destination.
ACP CEO Ahmed Albrahim said the program is working with tourism and aviation stakeholders, along with airline partners, to expand the Kingdom’s international route network and boost inbound air traffic in line with Vision 2030. He added that the Beond agreement reflects ACP’s “push to build sustainable connectivity for emerging destinations, particularly the Red Sea.”
Beond CEO and chairman Tero Taskila linked the MOU to the carrier’s existing Milan–Red Sea nonstop service.
“This agreement marks the next phase of our expansion strategy, strengthening access to one of the world’s most compelling leisure destinations while supporting Saudi Arabia’s vision for enhanced global connectivity and tourism growth,” he said.
Red Sea Global group CEO John Pagano said the agreement builds on that momentum by expanding the European network and bringing Red Sea Global’s destinations within easier reach of travelers from key source markets, calling it “a step toward accelerating regenerative tourism growth.”
Maldives-based Beond launched in November 2023 and currently leases two single-aisle aircraft: an Airbus A319 and an A321, configured with 44 and 68 lie-flat seats, respectively.
Taskila said the airline will continue to grow capacity with A321ceo aircraft as part of its ongoing expansion. Beond has said that it plans to grow its fleet to 22 aircraft based in Maldives and over 30 destinations by the end of the decade.
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