Expedia Affiliate Network teams up with Saudi Arabian Airlines to offer packages

Expedia Affiliate Network teams up with Saudi Arabian Airlines to offer packages

Travellers will have access to more than 260,000 hotels in 29,000 destinations, including Makkah, Jeddah, Riyadh, Dubai, London, Paris and New York Continue reading

Passengers using Saudi Arabian Airlines will be offered holiday packages through a tie-in with Expedia Affiliate Network to establish new brand Saudia Holidays.

Travellers will have access to more than 260,000 hotels in 29,000 destinations, including Makkah, Jeddah, Riyadh, Dubai, London, Paris and New York.

Saudi Holidays will access EAN’s full range of preferential rates and deals, creating competitive pricing for customers.

EAN’s worldwide accommodation portfolio, its dynamic packaging strengths and the flexibility of its technology were cited as the reasons for the airline entering into the partnership.

Also key was EAN’s ability to offer a fully outsourced, turnkey solution in collaboration with Bahrain-based travel technology and services specialist TCIG.

Together, the businesses’ responsibilities include building and maintaining the Saudia Holidays ecommerce website; the fulfilment of air, hotel and vehicle reservations; the operation of customer call-centres; and service delivery.

The airline’s director general, Engineer Saleh bin Nasser Al Jasser, said: “Saudia Holidays is a newly-launched specialised division in the airline’s holding group that will offer our guests a comprehensive lineup of travel options.

“Tourism is a growing segment in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and as the national carrier, Saudia flies to four continents, and is well positioned to facilitate a travel solution that provides hospitality, lodging and air travel all in a one-stop solution conveniently available online.”

EAN senior vice president and general manager, Ariane Gorin, added: “The launch of Saudia Holidays is strategically important both for the airline and the growth of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector.

“With a huge portfolio of quality hotel accommodation and more than 20 years at the cutting edge of travel technology, together with TCIG, we are able to deliver the tailored travel packaging and the level of control Saudia required.

“We will ensure Saudia Holidays is able to give its customers quality, choice, attractive rates and outstanding service for popular destinations across the Kingdom, the Middle East and globally.”