This shows an increase of 1,984,977 passengers or 19.74 percent. The number of flights during the same period rose by 13 percent from 73,543 in 2011 to 82,789 flights with an increase of 9,246 flights.

Saudia transported as many as 7,081,293 passengers on domestic flights compared to 5,758,617 passengers during the same period in 2011 with an increase of 1,322,676 passengers or 22.97 percent. These passengers were transported on 55,203 flights against 47,622 flights during the same period in 2011, showing an increase of 7,581 flights or 16 percent.

The steady growth in the domestic sector reflects the success of Saudia’s strategic operation plan that includes an increase in flights between Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Medina and Abha, operation of extra flights to other important cities and a remarkable rise in flights during the peak summer season to meet growing passenger requirements.

With regard to international flights, Saudia carried 4,960,983 passengers to its global destinations against 4,298,682 passengers during the same period in 2011 with an increase of 662,301 passengers or 15.41 percent. It operated 22,722 international flights against 20,933 flights during the same period in 2011 with an increase of 1,789 flights or 9 percent.

The arrival of newly purchased aircraft has enabled Saudia to operate direct flights to many destinations and increase its seat capacity to major cities within the Kingdom and abroad.
The second half report comes following the successful launch of the airline’s summer plan. Saudia has set out a big plan to deal with the large crowd of passengers this summer that coincides with Ramadan when millions of pilgrims come to the Kingdom for Umrah from around the world. Saudia has opened special counters to serve wait-listed passengers as well as those passengers whose flights have been either canceled for delayed.

Saudia is going ahead with its strategic plan to become a leading airline in the world. It has launched a major fleet modernization plan purchasing 90 new aircraft including state-of-the-art Airbus and Boeing planes. Saudia recently received its fifth Boeing 777-300ER, bringing the total new aircraft it received from European and American manufacturers to 57.

The summer season began on June 6, 2012 when Saudia operated 504 flights, including 328 in the domestic sector and 147 international flights with 19 flights for Umrah passengers. The airline operated 486 flights on June 7, 492 on June 8 and 485 on June 9, with most flights fully loaded with passengers.

Saudia has increased the number of employees at its call center to enable passengers to make quick reservations and purchase tickets. Also offering a number of self-service facilities through Saudia website and self-service machines at airports and malls.

Passengers would make use of the airline’s electronic self-service facilities for booking, purchasing ticket and selecting seats and meals. Saudia have installed 87 machines to issue boarding passes at airports and other places. As many as 658,614 boarding passes have been issued through these machines in the first quarter of this year.

Saudia have contracted with a specialized company to install 200 new machines to issue ticket and boarding passes. They will be installed shortly at shopping centers and highways.
Saudia has increased its flights between Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Medina, Taif and Tabuk by 9.7 percent as the national carrier will operate 159 flights weekly including 76 between Riyadh and Abha, 59 between Jeddah and Abha, providing a total of 20,790 seats in a week during this summer.

Flights from Riyadh and Jeddah to Baha have been increased by 14.3 percent to 32 flights weekly offering 4,224 seats, up 16.4 percent compared to last year. It has allocated 30 flights weekly between Riyadh and Taif, offering 3,960 seats while flights from the three main cities to Qassim rose by 17.9 percent to 46 flights, offering 5,049 seats.

Saudia’s weekly flights from Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Madinah and Abha to Tabuk have been increased by 26.8 percent to 71 flights, offering 9,726 seats. Flights to Hail from the three hubs rose by 25.8 percent to 39 weekly, offering 5,181 seats. 54 flights weekly with 5,676 seats to Najran and 64 flights with 10,116 seats to Jazan from the three hubs.

Saudia operated 12 flights weekly from Riyadh and Jeddah to New York and Washington during this summer offering 3,744 seats. Eight flights weekly to Paris from Riyadh and Jeddah offering 2,384 seats, six flights to Milan, six flights to Frankfurt and 11 flights to Geneva.

Saudia operated 14 flights weekly from Riyadh, Jeddah and Medina to Istanbul offering 3,010 seats.
As London being one of the major tourist destinations of Saudis, the airline operated 13 flights from Riyadh and Jeddah to the British capital, offering a total of 4,056 seats. 12 flights weekly to the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur, offering 4,956 seats, 69 flights to Dubai with 13,370 seats, eight flights to Addis Ababa and four flights to Tunis.