Saudia, the kingdom’s national airline, has achieved remarkable milestones in 2023, transporting over 30 million passengers, representing a significant 21% growth from the previous year. The airline also saw a 4% increase in flight operations, conducting over 176,300 flights, with transit flights alone experiencing a 77% surge since 2019.
This impressive performance is attributed to Saudia’s strategic initiatives aimed at boosting seat availability and flight frequency, coupled with enhancements in operational efficiency. These efforts have culminated in an on-time performance rate of 86.44%, positioning Saudia among the global top 10 for punctuality.
On the international front, Saudia has been instrumental in linking the Kingdom with the world, carrying over 16.7 million passengers on its global routes—a 36% increase. The airline conducted more than 79,400 international flights, up by 19% from the previous year, and logged 382,000 flight hours, marking a 26% rise.
Domestically, Saudia continued to cater to the Kingdom’s travel needs, transporting over 13.5 million passengers—a 7% increase. Domestic flights accounted for 55% of total operations, with 96,900 flights contributing to 163,000 flight hours.
In a strategic move to expand its global footprint, Saudia commenced operations to the new Red Sea International Airport in 2023 and launched new routes to Beijing, Birmingham, and Johannesburg. These expansions underscore Saudia’s commitment to broadening its international reach.
Captain Ibrahim Koshy, CEO of Saudia Group, said: “Saudia’s growing performance metrics reflect the optimal execution of our year-round operational plan, particularly during peak seasons. These figures are a testament to our success in serving key sectors, including tourism, business, and pilgrimage.
“Looking ahead, we anticipate a substantial expansion of our fleet, propelling our performance and marking a new chapter for Saudia since its inception, eighty-years ago.” He added.
Saudia currently operates flights to over one hundred destinations across four continents with a diverse fleet of 142 aircraft.
With strategic investments in King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, Saudia aims to establish a central hub that bridges the East with the West for transit flights. This aligns with the airline’s commitment to improve the travel experience for guests through the adoption of the latest digital systems, artificial intelligence technologies, as well as introducing an upgraded system infrastructure which is set to elevate operational efficiency and punctuality.
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