Saudia blames passengers for lack of seats on domestic flights
A Saudi Arabian Airlines A-330 plane takes off at the King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah in this file photo. The plane is one of the latest acquisitions by the national carrier. (AN photo)
Published: Jul 24, 2010 00:21 Updated: Jul 24, 2010 00:33
JEDDAH: Saudi Arabian Airlines has blamed passengers for lack of seats on its domestic flights, saying many of them do not cancel their reservations when they change their travel plans.
Waleed Aloloumi, the airline’s acting vice president for public relations, said passengers should have the courtesy to cancel their bookings if they do not travel.
“This will give chance for other passengers,” he said.
Saudia has been incurring heavy losses as a result of no-show passengers, company officials have said. In 2008, it reported a loss of SR1.79 billion because of 3.61 million no-show passengers including 2.3 million on domestic flights.
Aloloumi said passengers with confirmed bookings should reach the carrier’s counter at the airport 45 minutes before departure.
“If they do not turn up, other passengers on the wait list will be given a chance,” he said.
He also pointed out that no-show passengers lose 25 percent of their ticket money.
Aloloumi also said Saudi Arabian has rented additional aircraft to meet the huge demand during the summer season. The airline has signed a deal with Airbus and Boeing to purchase 70 new aircraft to strengthen its fleet.
“By the end of this year we’ll receive 39 new Airbus aircraft,” he said, adding that these planes will have a capacity ranging between 120 and 298 seats. The airline has already received 10 A320s and one A330 from the French company and are operating flights to its Asian, European and domestic destinations. Aloloumi said Saudi Airlines would double the frequency of its flights from Jeddah to Abha from three to six this week, operating Airbus planes having 300 seats. Abha is a major tourist destination in the Kingdom’s south.
During this summer, Saudi Arabian plans to operate 1,468 flights weekly to domestic airports 239 flights weekly to international destinations, offering more than 287,000 seats. “We’ll operate additional flights whenever required,” he said.
Aloloumi said the airline’s new online and electronic services would reduce pressure at sales offices and airports. Saudi Arabian shifted to the Amadeus passenger management system in May 2010.
The airline’s automatic system allows passengers to make reservations, select seats, purchase tickets and issue their boarding passes by themselves.
Khaled Al-Khaibari, spokesman of the General Authority of Civil Aviation, said GACA is ready to give license to new national airline companies. “The market is open for those companies that have the potential to operate domestic flights,” he said, adding that such companies should fulfill the required conditions. He urged Saudi businessmen to invest in the Kingdom’s air transport sector.
Saleh Qadah, general manager of National Tourism Company in Abha, said lack of airline seats for intending tourists would affect business in Abha. “Saudi investors have put more than SR800 million in various tourism projects in the Asir province. Lack of tourists would affect their business,” he said.
Comments
BRENDA
Jul 24, 2010 15:54
Report abuseSALMAN
Jul 24, 2010 15:55
Report abuseThis measure is only the effective way to curb losses and it puts responsibility on the passenger to be more mindful next time. This way the airlines can curtail their losses.
Hope it helps.
AHMAD
Jul 24, 2010 15:56
Report abuseSALEEM
Jul 24, 2010 16:01
Report abuseVON HERRERA
Jul 24, 2010 16:04
Report abuse