Launch of Riyadh Air complements Saudia: Official

Abdullah Al-Shahrani, spokesperson for Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia)

Abdullah Al-Shahrani, spokesperson for Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia), said the launch of Riyadh Air complements Saudia, as it contributes to the achievement of the goals of the National Strategy for Transport and Logistics Services.

The goals include transporting 330 million passengers and 250 international destinations by 2030, Al-Shahrani told Argaam on the sidelines of the seventh edition of the Future Investment Initiative.

He added that travel in Saudi Arabia is witnessing great demand in light of Vision 2030, which necessitates integration between the two companies in terms destinations, flight numbers, and presence in airports while respecting competition.

The largest number of passengers recorded by the Kingdom is 100 million, and Saudia recorded its historical number of around 35 million passengers in 2019.

Al-Shahrani added that the travel sector is witnessing robust demand as its recovery from the coronavirus pandemic exceeded expectations.

Saudia flies to more than 100 permanent and seasonal destinations, the spokesperson said, adding that the company purchased 49 large 7A7 aircraft, which will enable it to target new destinations.

The launch of the new identity represents a new era for Saudia, as it is based on some pillars, including enhancing the guest experience, the spokesperson said, adding that the company has a strategic plan to boost the Saudi identity as of Sept. 30. This aims to enrich the Saudi identity outside the Kingdom.

Regarding digital transformation, Al-Shahrani said the firm is working on building a new digital system at the level of reservations and search for tourist destination information, supported by the Saudi GPT chat system.

He added that the new digital system can create a tourism plan for travelers.