Saudi Arabia is moving to begin services into Avalon in Victoria and Toowoomba in Queensland, creating fresh links for passengers and exporters. The plan could give Australians another path to Europe inside two years. It also targets improved access to Saudi Arabia, which is already Australia’s largest market in the Middle East. Authorities frame the move as part of broader efforts to deepen a trade relationship worth about $2.7 billion.
Freight services operated by Saudia Cargo are expected to be first off the runway, potentially starting within weeks. Those cargo flights are particularly important for Australian meat exporters, who have faced shipping delays since late February.
Iranian missile strikes near airports in several Gulf states led to airspace closures across parts of the region. Traditional hubs such as Emirates’ base in Dubai and Qatar Airways’ base in Doha have been disrupted, slowing the usual flow of goods into Gulf Co-operation Council markets.
Extra Saudi capacity into Avalon and Toowoomba aims to bypass those clogged routes and restore more reliable supply lines into the Gulf. Industry groups see direct cargo services as a way to stabilise transit times and reduce reliance on congested hubs.
Passenger flights that follow would support tourism and open up a new one-stop option to Europe via Riyadh. Government engagement is accelerating the process, after Australia’s Trade Minister travelled to Riyadh in January to reinforce commercial and aviation co-operation even before the conflict escalated.
