Saudi Airlines Cargo announces that Riyadh’s King Khaled International Airport (KKIA) has been given the Best Cargo Airport award at Cargo Airline of the Year 2013. The award, based on annual cargo tonnage, was granted for the category 100,000 to 350,000 tons of cargo in recognition of the airport’s success in increasing its total cargo by 17 percent from 2011 to 2012.

Organized by Air Cargo News, the 30th anniversary of Cargo Airline of the Year — known as the “Oscars” of the industry — was held in London on April 27.

Abdullah Al-Tassan, director general at KKIA, said: “The airport has grown significantly over recent years, in accordance with the strategic plan approved by Prince Fahd bin Abdullah, chairman of the General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA), to increase the absorptive capacity of air cargo at the airport for various types of goods and shipments, as well as postal parcels.”

Cargo at the Riyadh station has shown double digit growth over the past three years, with Saudia Cargo making enhancements to its handling facility in order to accommodate this growth. The airline, which has the capability of handling all cargo products, is planning to build a brand new facility — expected to be ready in three years’ time — which will enable it to increase the current capacity threefold.

Abdullah Al-Rabeaah, Riyadh station manager for Saudia Cargo, said he was proud that the airport received the award for its cargo operations and thanked all who, in their capacity as the official handling company for Riyadh Airport, contributed to handling the cargo in the usual professional manner.