Saudi citizens are sick of these excuses. They have heard them time and again until they have memorized them by heart. They have finally realized that it is the hanger that Saudia uses to hang its failure to respond to the needs and expectations of the people of this country.

For many decades, all resources have been provided to this national carrier. It was also protected against competitors. Despite all this, Saudia was not able to raise to the hopes and expectations of the Saudi people.

Talking at the recently concluded Jeddah Economic Forum, Al-Molhem said all seats on Saudia’s 26 domestic routes were losing money as they are offered at cheaper than usual prices. He called for a review of the current prices, which were fixed about 16 years ago.

This is really surprising. The man was an economist before he became director general of the airline company. He should have realized that, amid this current wave of high prices, the Saudi citizen is no longer able to bear any rise in prices. How did he miss this point when calling for an increase in ticket prices?

Does Al-Molhem think that all Saudia passengers are wealthy people who are traders and businessmen? Does not he know that almost all those who occupy Saudia seats are low-income citizens and that some of them live on social security?

I hope that Al-Molhem and his ilk will be guided by the style of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, who made it a point never to break citizens with high prices. He should then look for other means to solve this crisis without putting more burdens on the citizen.