JEDDAH, 30 August 2005 — Saudi Arabian Airlines was ranked first among 43 world airlines on “operational safety audit” by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Dr. Khaled A. Ben-Bakr, director general of Saudi Arabian Airlines, received a letter of congratulations from Pierre Jeanniot, the director general emeritus of IATA, on this ranking.
Jeanniot stated that the credibility of the airline industry rests largely on its continued demonstration that safety and security are its foremost objectives. He added that the success of Saudi Arabian Airlines is a great example to follow.Dr. Ben-Bakr conveyed on his part how glad he was at this international acclaim, coming as it does from a neutral global organization like IATA, whose members exceed 275 airlines worldwide. He stated that IATA utilizes very precise methods in assessing an airline’s operational safety measures.
