Saudia carries record 9 million passengers in H1 2024

Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) said it carried nine million passengers in the first half of 2024, a 24 per cent increase compared to the same period a year earlier, as the aviation industry in the kingdom is experiencing unprecedented growth on the back of the country’s economic prosperity.

The state-owned carrier operated 42,000 flights, while its international fleet logged 199,000 flight hours, and domestic flight hours reached 88,000 hours, up 12 per cent and 9 per cent, respectively.

Founded in 1945, Saudia operates a fleet of 144 aircraft, connecting Saudi Arabia with more than 100 destinations across four continents. The carrier’s extensive network supports various sectors, including tourism, business, sports, entertainment, the Hajj, and Umrah.

Going forward, Saudi Arabia’s flag carrier is poised for unprecedented growth, with two major agreements with Boeing and Airbus for the acquisition of 103 new aircraft over the coming years.

Saudia Group is in talks with Airbus and Boeing over ordering wide-body jets to increase its capacity, the aviation group’s general manager of communications and media affairs, Abdullah Alshahrani, told Reuters.

Alshahrani added that the number of wide-body jets, which will serve both Saudia Airlines and flyadeal, is under discussion, but the group will place an order this year.

Saudi Arabia is investing billions of dollars to diversify its economy away from fossil fuels. It has an ambitious aviation plan, with new airlines, jet orders and potentially a huge international airport. The kingdom is also trying to get China’s COMAC to set up a local production facility as the Chinese planemaker steps up efforts to sell overseas.

Alshahrani said Saudia Group plans to visit COMAC’s China facility in September to test the jets so they can be considered in future, but it was “not the time” to place an order.

Meanwhile, after record passenger and flight numbers in 2023, Saudi Arabia’s aviation sector registered a 17 per cent increase in passenger numbers in H1 2024 to reach 62 million. The number of operated flights rose by 12 per cent to 446,000 flights, and the volume of air freight increased by 41 per cent to 606,000 tons until the end of June.

Read: Saudia turns to Airbus, Boeing wide-body jets amid single-aisle shortage