Al-Ahsa, Muharram 17, 1448 AH (July 2, 2026 AD) – Under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Saud bin Talal bin Badr, Governor of Al-Ahsa and CEO of the Al-Ahsa Development Authority, the Deputy Governor of Al-Ahsa, Muath bin Ibrahim Al-Jaafari, inaugurated today the launch of the first direct seasonal flights of 2026 between Al-Ahsa International Airport and Rize–Artvin International Airport in the Republic of Turkey, in cooperation between Turkish Airlines and Al-Ghazal Travel and Tourism Agency, in the presence of a number of officials. The launch of these flights is part of plans to expand seasonal destinations served by Al-Ahsa International Airport, aiming to enhance international air connectivity and expand direct travel options for passengers from Al-Ahsa, especially during the summer season, as part of the efforts of the Al-Ahsa Development Authority to develop the airport and improve its services, thereby contributing to enhancing the efficiency of air connectivity and supporting tourism and economic development in the governorate. The Deputy Governor of Al-Ahsa affirmed that this step is an extension of the support and attention given by the Governor to Al-Ahsa International Airport, and his continuous keenness to develop its infrastructure and enhance the efficiency of its services, in line with the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 in developing the tourism and economic sectors, and meeting the aspirations of the residents of the governorate in providing more direct international destinations. Al-Jaafari pointed out that the launch of these flights reflects the continuous development witnessed by Al-Ahsa in the air transport system, and contributes to enhancing its position as a developmental, tourist, and investment destination, as well as supporting travel movement, raising the efficiency of air connectivity, and enhancing the attractiveness of Al-Ahsa International Airport as a regional gateway serving the governorate and the region. // End // 14:59 T M 0109