The Saudi national airline resumes its flights to Canada after a diplomatic dispute that lasted five years.

Starting December 2, Saudi Airlines, formerly known as Saudi Arabian Airlines, will operate three weekly flights between Jeddah and Pearson International Airport in Toronto.
 

The Canadian Transportation Agency says this is the first time there have been direct routes between the two countries since 2018, when Saudi Arabia suspended its flights in protest of Canada's loud condemnation of its human rights record.

That year, Canada's Foreign Ministry called on Saudi Arabia to "immediately release" women's rights and democracy activists in detention.

In response, Saudi Arabia recalled its ambassador from Ottawa and expelled the Canadian ambassador, while also moving to reduce the number of its citizens studying in Canada.

The two countries agreed last May to welcome new ambassadors in each other's capitals.

This comes as Saudi Arabia seeks to develop its tourism economy, after years of largely restricting visas to those traveling for religious or business purposes.

The Canadian press contacted the Saudi embassy in Ottawa for comment on the resumed flights.

It is worth mentioning that the dispute occurred just months before the murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Turkey.

Saudi Arabia has denied U.S. intelligence conclusions about Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's approval of Khashoggi's murder.

Before the diplomatic dispute, the Liberal government had temporarily halted arms sales to Saudi Arabia due to reports of Canadian-made light armored vehicles being used in a bloody conflict in Yemen.