KSA's Flag Carrier Saudia Carries 30 Million Guests in 2023
The kingdom's National Aviation Strategy aims to support the transport of 330 million passengers across more than 250 destinations by 2030.
Saudia, the national flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, transported more than 30 million guests last year, marking a 21% increase compared to 2022. Saudia operated more than 176.3 thousand flights--a 4% increase on the previous year. Transit flights recorded a growth of 77% last year compared to 2019. [1]
The airliner also increased seat capacity and boosted flight frequency, resulting in an on-time performance of 86.44% last year, putting it in the top 10 airliners globally. Saudia transported over 16.7 million passengers through its international flight network, a 36% increase from the previous year. It has operated upward of 79.4 thousand international flights, a 19% increase from 2022.
In addition to launching flights to the Red Sea International Airport in 2023, it also launched trips to destinations like Beijing, Birmingham, and Johannesburg.
The kingdom has been growing its aviation sector in line with Vision 2030. In May 2022, the kingdom's Ministry of Transport and Logistics and the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) launched the National Strategy of the Aviation Sector. The Strategy aims to mobilize $100 billion from the public and private sectors by 2030 to make it the leading aviation sector in the region. It will support the transport of 330 million passengers across more than 250 destinations, and transport 45 million tons of air cargo by 2030.[3]
In March 2023, Saudi Arabia launched the second flag carrier of the kingdom, Riyadh Air, which is based out of the Saudi capital of Riyadh. It also invited carriers to apply for carrier licenses to operate domestic and international flights out of King Fahd International Airport in Dammam.[5]