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<div>On Thursday 25 Muharram 1438, corresponding to October 27, 2016, Hail Regional Airport witnessed the launch of Nesma Airline's first flight after receiving the National Commercial Air Operator License from the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA).</div>
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<div>Mr. Hamad bin Rashid Alkhemaish, the Director General of Northern Airports, stated that Nesma Airlines will make the city of Hail the center of its operations, after it was chosen to operate Hail's hub airport, which is the first step towards the National Project for Hub Airports. This project aims to facilitate the travel of citizens and residents cities across the Kingdom and nearby countries, without the total reliance on international airports.</div>
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<div>According to Khemaish, Nesma Airlines flights through Hail Airport will start with an average of two round trips a day with the destination of (Qaishumah &ndash; Tabuk). Other destinations will be gradually added on a weekly basis, which will help connect Hail Hub Airport to all Kingdom wide airports.</div>
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<div>He added: "During the upcoming period, Nesma Airlines will gradually increase its flights operating frequencies." Stressing the continuation of other airliners' scheduled flights operation through Hail airport, such as (Saudia Airlines, Flynas, Fly Dubai, Air Arabia and Egyptian Nesma Airlines), aiming to reach a total of 200 weekly flights through Hail Airport.</div>
<div>For his part, CEO of Nesma Airlines, Mr. Faisal Bin Saleh Al-Turki said that the Airline will operate one flight Hail-Turaif, two flights Hail-Qaisumah, two flights Hail-Arar, two flights Hail-Rafha, in addition to three flights Hail-Aljouf, three flights Hail-Tabuk, three flights Hail-Qaseem, and four flights Hail-Madinah. In November, scheduled flight to other major cities such as Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam will also be included and announced.</div>
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<div>Regarding the Airlines' fleet, Al-Turki said: Nesma Airlines is planning to increase its fleet during the next three years, to reach six aircrafts type ATR72-600 for flights operating in the northern cities, one aircraft type Airbus A319 and another Airbus A320 for flights operating from Hail Hub Airport to major cities. Another A320 aircraft along with two Airbus A321 will operate commercial flights between Jeddah-Riyadh and Jeddah-Dammam.</div>
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<div>Al-Turki explained that the Airlines began selling tickets through its website and the company's outlets and travel agents. He stated that Hail Airport administration handed Nesma Airlines all necessary locations within the airport boundaries in order to start preparing the locations for aircraft maintenance, air catering, and commercial flight operations.</div>
<div>Al-Turki thanked the General Authority of Civil Aviation for its efforts to complete all Nesma Airlines' procedures within one year, which is the fastest launch for a commercial aviation company, hoping to achieve the positive shift aspired by the General Authority in terms of air transport services in Saudi Arabia.</div>
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<div>It is worth mentioning that Hail Airport is currently studying the expansion of the existing airport terminals in the near future, as well as expanding the aircraft parking area to keep up with the flights to be added as per the airport's capacity. Recently, the car parking project has been awarded on a global company specialized in parking lots management, in terms of improving, shading and operating. These projects come as part of the General Authority of Civil Aviation's pursuit to provide better services and improve operating levels through Hail Airport.</div>
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<div>About Hail Hub Airport</div>
<div>Work on Hail Airport project began in 1394H (1974) and ended with the airport's opening back in 1399H (1979). Its strategic location grants it special importance in respect to aviation traffic in the Middle East, as it lies on the navigation routs convergence point that links Europe, Asia and Africa. This made Hail Airport a strategic location point for adjacent regional countries, facilitating the launch of operating international flights from/to Hail Airport. The General Authority of Civil Aviation is the official operator of Hail Airport, which includes a single runway equipped to receive the majority of medium-sized and large-size aircrafts, in addition to three Helipads and a landing strip allocated for Air Ambulance, and seven airport aprons for medium-sized and large-size aircrafts parking. The airport currently runs 83 weekly between local and international flights. The latest 2015 stats put the number of passengers at 801,000 annually; in 2016 that number is expected to reach 850,000 passengers, an increase of 7 percent.</div>
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<div>Hail Airport also includes local and international departure and arrival lounges with all the necessary equipment and basic facilities for passengers' comfort during his departure or arrival to Hail City. In addition, there is a lounge allocated for executive offices to serve the VIPs and Notables. Currently, The General Authority of Civil Aviation is seeking to expand the hub airport to serve all citizens in the north of Saudi Arabia, and link it to all other provinces, in alignment with the expectations of the future Saudi vision 2030.</div>
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<div>Hail Airport saw a number of development stages as follows:</div>
<div>&bull; 2009 &ndash; 2010: Development of the airport runway to accommodate medium-sized and large-sized Boeing 747-777 and Airbus 320-321-330 aircrafts.</div>
<div>&bull; 2012: Commencement of the expansion and improvement of the airport terminal lounges and facilities to keep pace with the launch of international operation.</div>
<div>&bull; 2013: Completion of the international lounges, plus the launch of international flights to/from Hail Airport operated by different airlines.</div>
<div>&bull; 2015: Hail Airport was chosen to be a Hub Airport to gradually link all Kingdom's airports through Hail Airport due to its strategic location.</div>
<div>&bull; Early 2016: the General Authority of Civil Aviation, in cooperation with Nesma Airlines, completed several preparations to take the Hub Airport to its operating phase. The Hub Airport is an initiative by the General Authority aiming to provide air transport services linking all cities in the Kingdom, north to south.</div>
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