JEDDAH, 24 December 2002 — Abdul Hameed Al-Jahdali, vice president, passenger services and sales, Saudi Arabian Airlines (SAA), has underscored the air transport industry’s vital role in propelling and shaping economic growth of any country in modern times. A veteran in the airline industry, he also stressed the need for keeping constant watch on new developments in the marketing field in order to keep pace with the fast changing technological development in the industry. “The need for offering quality service is all the more great in the air transport industry, which is facing severe challenges internationally,” he added. Al-Jahdali began his career with the national career in 1964 after graduating in business administration. He was posted in Asmara in 1974 and then was appointed regional manager in Libya in 1976. In 1980 he took over as regional manager in Egypt. Then in 1985 he became general manager-sales for the Central Region, based in Riyadh. Since his expertise in the field was more needed in overseas markets where competition was very tough, he was appointed general manager for Europe and America in 1990. After serving in this region for a decade he was promoted vice president, passenger services and sales in 1998.