As yet another indicator of the extraordinary growth of commercial aviation in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the national carrier Saudia has announced it has achieved positive growth in its operational performance for the first half of 2024 (1H24).
Based on the airline’s latest performance report, the carrier carried 16.3 million passengers on both domestic and international routes, marking a 19% increase compared to the same period in 2023. This growth was supported by the operation of over 94,300 flights, including scheduled and additional services, representing an 11% increase.
Additionally, Saudia recorded 287,200 flight hours, with an 11% rise compared to the first half of 2023, while maintaining an operational on-time performance rate of 89.3%.
In international operations, Saudia transported over 9.1 million passengers during 1H24represwnting a 24% year-on-year increase, and conducted 42,000 flights, marking a 13% increase compared to the same period in 2023. The airline’s international fleet logged 199,000 flight hours, marking a 12% growth.
Domestically, Saudia served more than 7.2 million passengers, a 14% increase, with over 52,300 flights operated, recording a 10% rise. Domestic flight hours also grew by 9%, reaching 88,000 hours.
In May 2024, The Saudia Group announced an order for a further 105 Airbus A320neo family aircraft. The new aircraft will be used to bolster the fleets of both Saudia and its low-cost subsidiary, flyadeal, in a deal that will help the group keep pace with the Kingdom’s ambitious expansion plans for aviation in the coming years.
The order also represented the largest order for new aircraft in the carrier’s 79-year history, with the first of the new aircraft scheduled to arrive with the airline in the first quarter of 2026. The breakdown of the order included 12 A320neos and 93 A321neo aircraft and increased Saudia Group’s Airbus aircraft order backlog to 144 A320neo family aircraft.
