BA to cancel Saudi routes

British Airways is planning to axe its services to Saudi Arabia because they have become unprofitable. The carrier announced yesterday that, as from the end of March, it will no longer run services to Riyadh and Jeddah. The decision was made on commercial grounds but a reduction in passenger numbers is widely being attributed to ongoing concerns about security in the region. The Guardian quotes a BA spokesman as saying: “The routes are not making a profitable contribution so we are unable to continue operating them. “The security situation has obviously reduced commercial demand. We’re not getting so many people wanting to go out there and foreign companies based in Saudi Arabia are bringing fewer workers in.” The newspaper quotes on BA pilot who expresses relief at the decision: “These flights are too bloody hazardous – it’s just warning, warning, warning. The commercial thing is an excuse to avoid treading on Saudi toes.” Report by Tim Gillett, News From Abroad Ltd