JEDDAH, 10 July 2007 — Saudi Arabian Airlines has leased 14 aircrafts to meet the summer demand of passengers wanting to spend their holidays abroad, said Khaled Al-Mulhim, director general of the airline.
“We are now in the process of avoiding a delay in flights and reducing accumulation of passengers at airports by increasing flights,” he said, adding that a delay in flights and the stranding of passengers at some airports was due to a lack of aircrafts. Al-Mulhim blamed new operators for the recent accumulation of passengers at King Khaled International Airport in Riyadh. “This year we are operating 450 to 460 domestic and international flights daily with an increase of 140 daily flights compared to last year,” he said.
Saudia has grounded 14 old airplanes, including its Airbus 300s and Boeing 747s. “Some of the grounded planes were wide-bodied aircraft such as the Boeing 747, which has a large number of seats. This has resulted in a reduction of the availability of seats,” said Al-Mulhim.
Asked about frequent delays in domestic flights compared to international flights, Mulhim replied, “We don’t discriminate against international and domestic flights.” He, however, said delays could take place because of extraordinary situations and as a result of technical faults.
“We have to wait three to four years to get new airplanes. Until then we have to depend on leased aircraft,” he said.
New aircraft ordered by the airline will be arriving after 2010. According to one report, Saudia was in negotiations with Boeing and Airbus to purchase 60 new airplanes worth $12 billion (SR45 billion) to strengthen its fleet and increase seat capacity.
The deal, the largest of its kind, will bolster the airline’s current fleet of 139, helping it counter the challenges posed by regional and international airline companies. Al-Mulhim added that the airline’s 10-year strategy is aimed at tackling competition from other airlines.
Last November, Al-Mulhim said that in the next 10 years the number of visitors to the Kingdom would triple from the current 3.5 million, as more Muslims come for Haj and Umrah. Saudia carried a record 17.57 million passengers in 2006, with an increase of 471,462 passengers compared to the previous year. These passengers included 720,516 Umrah pilgrims, who the airline transported from its domestic and international stations.
Saudia’s last major aircraft order was for 61 Boeing planes in 1995, which included several 747s that were delivered over a four-year period. In 2005, it bought 15 66-seat Embraer planes from Brazil for $400 million. The new Saudi order will be one of the biggest of 2007, on par with the 70 737s Ryanair bought from Boeing in 2002.
