The board of directors of Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) held a meeting here Sunday under the chairmanship of Sulaiman Al-Hamdan, president of the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), and vowed to expand the airline’s domestic and international operations while improving customer services.

At the outset of the meeting at Saudia headquarters, Al-Hamdan, former CEO of National Air Services (NAS), thanked Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman for appointing him as president of GACA and chairman of Saudia. He commended the services extended by Prince Fahd bin Abdullah as GACA president and Saudia chairman during the past 30 years.

“All Saudia board members and employees are required to exert greater efforts to achieve the airline’s strategic objectives in terms of improving performance and enhancing services to passengers,” the chairman said.

Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, director general of Saudia, gave a presentation on the airline’s performance in 2014 when it carried a record 28.18 million passengers, registering an increase of 2.31 million compared to the previous year.

“The number of seats made available on domestic and international flights reached 32.53 million with an increase of 2.51 million compared to 2013,” Al-Jasser told the board meeting.

He said 77 new Airbus and Boeing aircraft have joined the Saudia fleet in recent years, adding that the number of new aircraft would soon reach 90. He also spoke about the high rates of on-time performance achieved by Saudia as it won top place in July and August 2014.

Al-Jasser’s presentation included an estimated budget for 2015, plan to improve passenger services, Haj and Umrah plan, manpower development plan, financial challenge, privatization program and performance of companies and strategic units under the organization.

Speaking about development plans for the next five years, Al-Jasser said they aim at strengthening the airline’s operation capabilities, modernization of aircraft and IT systems, purchase of more aircraft to expand domestic operations, operating flights to new destinations, completion of privatization program and further enhancing the airline’s image and improving efficiency of its frontline staff.