A Saudi Arabian Airlines plane Flight SV872 from Jeddah is shown at an isolated area at Manila's International Airport in Pasay, south of Manila, Philippines on Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2016. Saudia, formerly known as Saudi Arabian Airlines, is resuming flights to Toronto in December, after five years of no direct connections with Canada since a 2018 spat over the Liberals' loud condemnation of the kingdom's human-rights record. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Aaron Favila
Saudi Arabia's national airline, Saudia, is set to resume flights to Canada after a five-year hiatus due to a diplomatic dispute. The airline, formerly known as Saudi Arabian Airlines, will operate three weekly flights between Jeddah and Toronto's Pearson International Airport starting December 2.
Transport Canada has confirmed that this marks the first time there will be direct routes between the two countries since 2018. The diplomatic tensions arose when Canada openly criticized Saudi Arabia's human rights record, prompting a strong response from the Middle Eastern nation. In 2018, Global Affairs Canada called for the immediate release of detained women's rights and democracy activists in Saudi Arabia.
In retaliation, Saudi Arabia took several measures, including recalling its ambassador from Ottawa, expelling Canada's envoy, and reducing the number of its citizens studying in Canada. The strained relations continued until May of this year when the two countries agreed to welcome new ambassadors to each other's capitals, signaling a thaw in diplomatic tensions.
The resumption of direct flights between Saudi Arabia and Canada is a significant development and comes at a time when Saudi Arabia is actively working to boost its tourism economy. For years, the country had restricted visas primarily to those traveling for religious or business purposes. The decision to resume flights indicates Saudi Arabia's efforts to open up to international travelers and diversify its tourism offerings.
The diplomatic dispute between Canada and Saudi Arabia occurred just months before the murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi at a Saudi consulate in Turkey. Saudi Arabia has consistently denied allegations from U.S. intelligence agencies that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman approved Khashoggi's killing.
Before the diplomatic spat, the Canadian government, led by the Liberal party, had temporarily halted arm sales to Saudi Arabia. This decision was prompted by reports that Canadian-made light armored vehicles were being used in the conflict in Yemen. The resumption of flights signals a positive step in diplomatic relations between the two countries and may contribute to a more normalized interaction after years of strained ties. The Canadian Press has sought comment from the Saudi embassy in Ottawa regarding the resumed flights.
