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Saudia started out in 1945 with a single twin-engine DC-3 (Dakota) HZ-AAX given to King Abdulaziz
by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Months later, two additional DC-3s were purchased, forming the nucleus of
what would soon become one of the world’s major airlines.
Today, Saudia operates a modern fleet of 142 aircraft, including the latest and most advanced
wide-bodied jets: B787-9, B777-268L, B777-300ER, Airbus A320-200, Airbus A321, and Airbus A330-300.
Below are some of the most important historical highlights of Saudia since its establishment, tracing its evolution
into one of the best airlines in the world.
Saudia Historical Highlights
1950s
1960s
1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s
2010s
2020s
History of the 40-50's
The 1940–1950 History
1945
U.S. President Roosevelt gives King Abdul Aziz a gift of a Douglas DC-3 Dakota
following their historic meeting in the Suez Canal on February 14, 1945. The DC-3
was used on routes between Riyadh, Jeddah and Dhahran and carried both passengers and cargo.
Two more DC-3s were purchased within months.
1946
Saudia was set up as an operating agency of the Ministry of Defense.
The airline's first airport and operating base was located at Kandara,
close to what is today the downtown area of Jeddah. Haj pilgrims were
flown to Jeddah from Lydda, Palestine and other countries. In the same year,
Saudia requested permission for charter flights to London.
1947
Two more Dakotas were purchased and scheduled services were operated both within the Kingdom
and to regional destinations such as Cairo and Damascus. The first scheduled domestic service
took place on March 14th.
1948
Service started to Beirut.
1949
The first of five Bristol 170s, Mark 21-E variant, adaptable for passengers or freight, was delivered.
1952
Five four-engine Douglas DC-4s were purchased, their greater range permitting
operations to Middle Eastern destinations. Service started to Amman and Karachi.
1953
Services between Dhahran and Beirut were inaugurated, in addition to starting service
to Port Sudan, Asmara, Istanbul and Kuwait.
1954
Ten Convair 340s, the airline's first pressurized aircraft, were purchased and delivered
between 1954 and 1955.
In the same year, the first flight landed to TUU station by Dakota (DC-3, 24 seats)
on a sand runway.
1955
By its tenth anniversary, the airline had brought all outlying communities of the Kingdom
to within a few hours' journey of each other, both to and from Riyadh and Jeddah,
which is the local transport hub for the annual Haj pilgrimage.
The first maintenance shops were built in Jeddah.
1959
In April of this year, a daily air shuttle service between Jeddah and Riyadh was inaugurated,
using the pressurized Convair-Liners.
History of the 40-50's
| The 1940–1950 History | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1945 | U.S. President Roosevelt gives King Abdul Aziz a gift of a Douglas DC-3 Dakota following their historic meeting in the Suez Canal on February 14, 1945. The DC-3 was used on routes between Riyadh, Jeddah and Dhahran and carried both passengers and cargo. Two more DC-3s were purchased within months. |
|
| 1946 | Saudia was set up as an operating agency of the Ministry of Defense. The airline's first airport and operating base was located at Kandara, close to what is today the downtown area of Jeddah. Haj pilgrims were flown to Jeddah from Lydda, Palestine and other countries. In the same year, Saudia requested permission for charter flights to London. | |
| 1947 | Two more Dakotas were purchased and scheduled services were operated both within the Kingdom and to regional destinations such as Cairo and Damascus. The first scheduled domestic service took place on March 14th. | |
| 1948 | Service started to Beirut. |
|
| 1949 | The first of five Bristol 170s, Mark 21-E variant, adaptable for passengers or freight, was delivered. | |
| 1952 | Five four-engine Douglas DC-4s were purchased, their greater range permitting operations to Middle Eastern destinations. Service started to Amman and Karachi. |
|
| 1953 | Services between Dhahran and Beirut were inaugurated, in addition to starting service to Port Sudan, Asmara, Istanbul and Kuwait. | |
| 1954 |
Ten Convair 340s, the airline's first pressurized aircraft, were purchased and delivered
between 1954 and 1955. In the same year, the first flight landed to TUU station by Dakota (DC-3, 24 seats) on a sand runway. |
|
| 1955 | By its tenth anniversary, the airline had brought all outlying communities of the Kingdom to within a few hours' journey of each other, both to and from Riyadh and Jeddah, which is the local transport hub for the annual Haj pilgrimage. The first maintenance shops were built in Jeddah. |
|
| 1959 | In April of this year, a daily air shuttle service between Jeddah and Riyadh was inaugurated, using the pressurized Convair-Liners. | |