Swiss and Austrian suspending Saudi operations

[globetrotter]

Both carriers are pulling out of Jeddah and Riyadh, OS from 18th December and LX from 1st Februray.

[fretn]

why are they doing this?
I guess swiss and austrian have high yielding passengers on this route due to the banking sector?

[BrightCedars]

Maybe LH has noted that the traffic is mostly USA-KSA and decided it would be better if it was routed via LHR on BD and via FRA on themselves? They might be in overcapacity altogether.

[andorra-airport]

And don't forget: only business people (oil) can go to Saudi Arabia, they don't give visa to other people. They are starting tourism, but very slowly.

[JOVAN]

And don't forget: only business people (oil) can go to Saudi Arabia, they don't give visa to other people. They are starting tourism, but very slowly.

OS was not at all successful on this routes; hardly 30-40 people in a B737
LX was more crowded.
Never understood why LH, OS and LC where flying all 3 and so often to Saudi.

Do not tell anybody, but Saudi is a paradise for a businessmen: Saudi needs everything and has money lie hell.

There is far more than oil business there: you can sell absolutely everything in Saudi, except alcohol, drugs, ..

A paradise, a goldmine for businessmen.

Visas are now really easy to get (follow procedure); and the custom officers are 100 times frienlier than their US or EU counterparts.

[regi]

oportunity for Etihad with its flightto Geneva ?

[lambrusco]

People at Swiss can't laugh too much with this ...
Whilst lots of Swiss stations are still operated by Swiss birds, the people in charge there are now mostly Lufthansa staff (goodbye the Swiss staff) - at least in stations where both airlines were flying to -.
S. Arabia was a high yield and profitable route for LX.
A few years back, when they started to coop with Swiss they (LH) went from a few flights a week to double daily if I remember well ... there as well, LX people were not really enthusiastic about that kind of 'friendly' move.
Anyhow, at LX and OS it is clear who the 'boss' is nowadays ...

[sn-remember]

I think LX start operating to Saudia after BA cut the route
I think BA recently resumed the route maybe this could be the reason