28 September 2010

Record increase in flights from Riyadh

Within the framework of its strategic plan to develop its network ‎of domestic and international flights, Saudi Arabian Airlines ‎implemented a new operation system from the beginning of ‎‎2010. The new system, which was introduced to strengthen the ‎national carrier's competitive position, coincides with the arrival ‎of newly purchased Airbus planes.‎ The new system aims at operating direct flights between Saudi ‎Arabia and Europe and increasing the number of passengers ‎carried by the Airline by 20 percent in 2010 compared to the ‎previous year.


The system has been instrumental in improving ‎services to clients. The plan's second phase that begins on ‎November 10, 2010 aims at increasing flights between Riyadh ‎and the Kingdom's different regions.‎ Saudi Airlines introduced the system to meet the requirements ‎of growing number of passengers and promote domestic ‎tourism. It offers greater number of seats on its flights between ‎Riyadh and other domestic destinations and reduces the ‎frequency between flights.‎ The number of flights from Riyadh to Dammam increased from ‎five to seven daily, reducing the frequency between flights to ‎two-and-half hours. There will be 55 flights weekly between ‎Riyadh and Abha (instead of 50) at the rate of eight flights daily. ‎Flights between Riyadh and Jazan have been increased to 23 ‎instead of 17 weekly. There will be 22 flights weekly (instead of ‎‎18) to Tabuk, 14 to Hail and 11 to Baha.‎

 

Flights from Riyadh to international destinations will also ‎witness increase. There will be seven flights weekly to Beirut, ‎nine flights to Bahrain, seven flights to Amman, five flights to ‎Doha and two flights to Sanaa. Substantial increase has been ‎made in flights from Riyadh to Cairo, Damascus, Dubai and ‎other international destinations.‎

 

Saudi Airlines was able to increase flights as a result of the ‎arrival of 24 newly purchased Airbus aircraft. The number of ‎the new aircraft to be received from Airbus will reach 39 by the ‎end of this year. The national carrier has signed agreements with ‎Airbus and Boeing to purchase 82 aircraft as part of its efforts to ‎modernize its fleet.‎