BA to axe flights to Saudi Arabia

SECURITY fears in Saudi Arabia and the resulting plunge in the number of Westerners flying there has prompted British Airways to axe services to Jeddah and Riyadh.

Amid fears for the safety of Britons and other Westerners in Saudi at the hands of al-Qaeda terrorists, BA said it is cutting the services from the end of March.

'The routes don't currently make a profitable contribution to our business and we are unable to sustain them while this remains the case,' said BA planning director Paul Boyle. 'The decision is a difficult one as we have enjoyed a long history of flying between the two countries.'

A BA spokesman admitted that while passenger numbers to Saudi have dwindled - the Foreign Office, has pulled out some staff, and is advising 'extreme vigilance' among visitors - operating costs have soared after its decision last year to billet crew overnight in Kuwait rather than Saudi.

With many businesses giving Saudi a wide berth, the spokesman said BA had become reliant on seasonal traffic. Ironically, BA is just entering one of the busiest times for flights into Saudi - the annual pilgrimage to Mecca for the hajj.

BA's marketing partner Iberia is set to come under pressure from Ryanair after the Irish budget airline said it is to start flying to Santiago de Compostela, in north-western Spain, a centre for Christian pilgrims. Ryanair says its passengers can make big savings on Iberia fares.