Yemen Monitor / Newsroom:
Yemenia Airways has announced the inauguration of direct flights connecting the Socotra Archipelago with the Saudi city of Jeddah, starting Wednesday, January 7, 2026.
In an official statement, the company explained that the first phase of these flights will be dedicated to evacuating foreign tourists who remained stranded on the island due to previous restrictions and operational conditions. Observers describe this step as a move to break the “Emirati dominance” that has controlled aviation movement in the archipelago over the past years, signaling a new era of aerial openness.
The company emphasized that Socotra is now accessible to all Yemeni citizens, as well as Arab and foreign tourists, free from the exceptional measures previously imposed by the UAE. It noted that this air route will serve as a new lifeline to support the local economy and international tourism on the island, which is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
