A Brief Flight: The Story of SaudiGulf Airlines In the ever-competitive skies of Saudi Arabia, several airlines have attempted to carve out a niche. Among these was SaudiGulf Airlines, a privately owned carrier that, for a period, aimed to offer a more premium service within the Kingdom's domestic market and to select international destinations. Established in 2013 by the Abdel Hadi Abdullah Al-Qahtani & Sons Group of Companies, SaudiGulf Airlines officially commenced operations on October 29, 2016, with its inaugural flight from Dammam, its hub, to Riyadh. The airline positioned itself as a "boutique" carrier, focusing on providing enhanced services and a comfortable experience for its passengers, setting it apart from the more established low-cost models. Initially, SaudiGulf Airlines operated a small fleet of Airbus A320-200 aircraft, focusing on key domestic routes like Dammam to Riyadh and Jeddah, before expanding to include destinations like Abha, Medina, and even international routes to Dubai, Cairo, Baghdad, and Erbil. The airline had ambitious plans for expansion, including orders for Airbus A320neo family aircraft and even discussions about wide-body jets, signaling its intent to grow its network and capacity. However, the journey of SaudiGulf Airlines was ultimately curtailed. Despite positive feedback on its service quality, the airline faced significant challenges, including regulatory delays in its early days and, critically, the unprecedented impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on global aviation. On June 3, 2020, SaudiGulf Airlines suspended its operations and subsequently filed for bankruptcy, bringing its relatively brief but notable flight to an end. The story of SaudiGulf Airlines serves as a reminder of the inherent volatility and challenges within the airline industry, particularly for newer entrants. While its operations ceased, it left a mark as an airline that, for a time, brought a fresh perspective and a focus on enhanced service to the Saudi Arabian aviation landscape.