Saudia on track to profitability earlier than planned, says CEO

Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) is on track to turn profitable in 2019, one year earlier than planned, Reuters reported, citing CEO Saleh bin Nasser al-Jasser.

“This year has been an excellent year for us,” Jasser said, noting that the airline made a profit in Q3 2017, after just one profitable month last year.

The Jeddah-based carrier aims to be profitable in one half of 2018, and expects to record its first annual profit in 2019, the chief executive added. 

Saudia, along with flyadeal, will list shares on the Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul) in a joint initial public offering (IPO) sometime after 2020, Jasser said.

The airline is currently in the “advanced stages” of selling 75 percent of its medical services business through a private placement, he added.

It also aims to float 30 percent of its cargo unit on the stock market, possibly in 2018, while part of the company’s flight training business will be sold privately, Jasser said. 

Saudia, one of the oldest carriers in the Middle East, expects to carry over 32 million passengers in 2017, up from around 29 million last year.

The airline is looking to add seasonal routes to Europe and Turkey next year, Jasser said, noting an order for wide-body jets may also be considered in 2018.

In addition, the CEO said he expects Airbus and Boeing to submit proposals for 30 narrow-body jets for flyadeal by the end of this year, adding that a relevant decision will be taken by Q2 2018.