Saudia rejects ‘discrimination’ allegation

Khaled Al-Molhem, director general of Saudi Arabian Airlines, has rejected allegations that his airline discriminated against nationalities but emphasized that it would uphold the sovereign rights of countries.
“We don’t discriminate against passengers on the basis of nationality and religion,” Al-Watan Arabic daily quoted Al-Molhem as saying while commenting on US media reports that Saudia did not allow an Israeli to board its flight.
“Diplomatic relations and political exchange are basic requirements for a person to enter a country,” the Saudia chief said indicating that Saudi Arabia does not have diplomatic relations with Israel.
Al-Molhem made it clear: “We cannot accept a passenger if his country does not have political relations with Saudi Arabia because it would be impossible for him to enter the country.”
He further clarified: “This applies even to transit passengers because if there is a delay in the arrival of his flight he has to enter the country but it would be difficult for him because of a lack of political exchange.”
A senior Saudia official explained: “Saudia operates its international flights only from or to Saudi airports, which makes it impossible for the carrier to allow anyone without a Saudi visa to board its flights, including Umrah passengers, let alone Israelis.”
New York’s public advocate and mayoral candidate Bill de Blasio accused Saudia of “discriminating” against Israeli passengers after a sting operation by his staff revealed that the airline refuses to book Israeli citizens in its flights.