Saudia, the national flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, said that it transported more than 30 million guests last year.
That figure, it added, marks a 21 per cent year-on-year increase, and involved the operation of more than 176,300 flights – a 4 per cent increase over the pervious year.
Transit flights meanwhile witnessed a growth of 77 per cent in 2023 compared to the pre-pandemic year 2019.
The airline said that it achieved an overall on-time performance of 86.44 per cent last year, reportedly among the top 10 globally.
Saudia transported more than 16.7 million passengers through its international flight network, a substantial 36 per cent increase over 2022.
The airline operated more than 79,400 international flights, a 19 per cent increase over the previous year.
It has also registered a 26 per cent increase in flight hours with 382,000 flight hours in 2023.
Domestically, Saudia carried more than 13.5 million passengers, a 7 per cent growth over 2022. Fifty-five per cent of the total flights it operated, totaling 96,900 were dedicated to the domestic destinations, notching up 163,000 flight hours.
Last year, Saudia inaugurated operations to the Red Sea International airport, alongside the launch of several international destinations including Beijing, Birmingham and Johannesburg.
Saudia currently operates flights to over 100 destinations across 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.
Captain Ibrahim Koshy, CEO of Saudia Group, said, “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.”
Last year, the airline also undertook a major rebranding exercise including a fresh livery and new uniforms for cabin crew.
