KABUL, Afghanistan — The Taliban-controlled Ministry of Transport and Aviation announced the launch of direct flights from Khost International Airport to Saudi Arabia, with the inaugural flight taking place on Wednesday, November 13.
According to a statement from the ministry, the first direct flight from Khost to Jeddah was operated by Kam Air, a private Afghan airline.
Going forward, flights will run once a week between Khost and Jeddah, offering Afghan passengers a new route to Saudi Arabia.
High ticket prices have been a significant concern for Afghan travelers over the past three years, amid limited flight options.
International airlines largely halted flights to Afghanistan after the Taliban took control in August 2021, coinciding with the withdrawal of U.S. and NATO forces after two decades of military presence. Some airlines, however, have since resumed service. In January, Air Arabia restarted flights to Kabul International Airport, and in November 2023, FlyDubai became the first international carrier to resume regular flights to Afghanistan.
Currently, two Afghan airlines, Kam Air and Ariana Afghan Airlines, operate flights from Kabul to international destinations, including Dubai; Moscow; Islamabad; and Istanbul.
Earlier this month, Iran Airtour, a private Iranian airline, also launched its first direct service to Kabul.
Taliban officials have indicated that, in addition to domestic airlines, approximately 10 foreign carriers are now operating flights in Afghanistan.
