Saudia registered a 21 pc year-on-year increase in the passenger numbers, while the number of flights operated by it grew 4 pc in the year
Saudia, the national flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, says it operated 176,300 flights that transported more than 30 million guests in the year 2023.
In a press statement, the airline says that it registerd a 21 pc year-on-year increase in the passenger numbers, while the number of flights operated by it grew 4 pc in the year, compared to 2022.
In its annual report card, the airline adds that transit flights meanwhile witnessed a growth of 77 pc in 2023 compared to the pre-pandemic year 2019. The airline said that it achieved an overall on-time performance of 86.44 pc last year, reportedly among the top 10 globally.
Saudia transported more than 16.7 million passengers through its international flight network, a substantial 36 pc increase over 2022. The airline says it operated more than 79,400 international flights, a 19 pc increase over the previous year. It registered a 26 pc increase in flight hours, clocking a total of 382,000 flight hours in 2023.
Domestically, Saudia carried more than13.5 million passengers, a 7 pc growth over 2022. In terms of flights, 96,900 flights or 55 pc of the total flights it operated were dedicated to the domestic destinations.
Captain Ibrahim Koshy
Last year, Saudia inaugurated operations to the Red Sea International airport, alongside the launch of several international destinations including Beijing, Birmingham and Johannesburg. This takes the total number of destinations served by the airline to over 100 in four continents, with a fleet of 142 aircraft.
With strategic investments in King Abdulaziz International airport in Jeddah, it aims to establish a hub that bridges the East with the West for transit flights.
“Saudia’s growing performance metrics reflect the optimal execution of our year-round operational plan, particularly during peak seasons. Looking ahead, we anticipate a substantial expansion of our fleet, propelling our performance and marking a new chapter for Saudia since its inception 80 years ago,” says Captain Ibrahim Koshy, CEO of Saudia Group.
