Thursday 10 November 2016

Saudia Airlines Director General: 2,000 Pilots Fly the Company’s Fleet

Seattle- As part of the Saudi National Transformation Plan 2020, Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) began implementing around six new strategies.


Saudia Director General Saleh Bin Nasser al-Jasser revealed that the financial situation of the company is improving.


Jasser spoke at a press conference that Saudia held in the U.S. city of Seattle on Tuesday, on the occasion of receiving the airlines’ first Boeing B777-300ER aircraft supplied with new and luxurious compartments for the first class passengers.


He said the first strategy was developing and updating the aircraft fleet and developing the airlines work in general. This strategy has been implemented, as the company aims to have around 200 new airplanes by 2020 and has targets for around 45 million passengers per year, and approximately 1,000 flights every day.


Al-Jasser mentioned that in 2016, 29 aircraft were added to the fleet and the goal next year is to add around 30 more airplanes. Saudia is getting rid of several types of aircraft, including 747 and Embraer plane fleet. By December 1, the last plane from the Embraer fleet will have its last flight from Riyadh to Dammam.


Saudia intends to sell some parts of these decommissioned airplanes or sell the whole aircraft.


He pointed out that privatization is ongoing, a process that will help enhance the company’s performance.


He explained that Saudia’s plans are based on objectives to increase services and efficiency.


Jasser added: “We will be working to increase productivity as well as performance efficiency of employees through several ways, including some initiatives.”


Saudia joined SkyTeam after the company’s achievements and status worldwide.


The Director General indicated that Saudia aims to enhance the services as well as the whole passengers’ experiences through training the employees on handling situations such as flight delays.


The company would focus on human resources department, which includes having a suitable working environment and measuring the performance.


Jasser confirmed that the company is undergoing several changes in logo and slogan. But, he told reporters that changing the identity of Saudia is not important now, as the firm wants to improve its services and products.

He explained that Saudia has around 2,000 pilots, which sets the company among the highest employing sectors in Saudi Arabia.


Jasser moreover said that Saudia is launching new flight destinations this year. Ankara would be the new destination, followed by Algeria. By 2017, other new destinations will be opened too.


Jason Clark, Boeing vice president of 777/777X operations, also spoke at the press conference. He commended the relations between Saudia and Boeing, which go back 70 years when U.S. President Roosevelt gifted King Abdulaziz a DC-3.


Clark expressed his pride in the typical partnership between the two countries which could enhance air transportation in the kingdom.



Saudia Airlines Director General: 2,000 Pilots Fly the Company’s Fleet

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