Tag Archives: Saudia

SAUDIA and DAMAS sign agreement to add miles for ALFURSAN members

Saudi Arabian Airlines (SAUDIA) and Damas Saudi Arabia Company Ltd. signed an agreement to grant members of the frequent flyer program, ALFURSAN, miles added to their account for every purchase. The agreement was signed by the Vice President of Marketing and Product Management at SAUDIA, Mr. Essam Akhonbay, and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Damas and CEO, Mr. Luc Perramond. Under the agreement, members of the Blue and Silver tiers of the Elite ALFURSAN program will receive one additional mile for every USD per purchase from Damas, while members of the Gold Level Elite Plus will receive two additional miles for every USD on each purchase from Damas. Mr. Essam Akhonbay, VP Marketing and Product Management at SAUDIA, stated, “In line with the new program revamp, ALFURSAN is set to offer more rewards, miles, and partners to maximize the benefits to our 7.5 million ALFURSAN members. This partnership will enrich the pool of benefits to ensure our elite members receive more value for their loyalty”. Luc Perramond, Chairman and CEO of Damas Jewellery commented: “We are proud to announce the signing of our partnership with SAUDIA, one of the most notable airlines in the region. As a leading player in the jewellery sector in the Kingdom in particular and the Gulf in general, it is essential that our products and services remain fully compatible with the changing needs of the market that is always seeking brilliance and creativity.” Perramond added, “We will in turn strive to meet the needs of the consumer with our distinguished business and various offers. One of our goals is to offer ALFURSAN members a high-level shopping experience, where they are rewarded for …

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Prince Sultan Aviation Academy sign MOU to transfer knowledge and support localization efforts in the aviation industry

Prince Sultan Aviation Academy (PSAA), a subsidiary of SAUDIA Group, has signed an MoU with the Colleges of Excellence Company in order to establish a general framework aimed at exchanging experiences, information, and launching numerous initiatives in the field of training and development. The agreement outlines the best ways to share information and experiences in the training and education sectors, in addition to organizing many workshops and joint training courses to help achieve common goals. His Excellency Eng. Ibrahim Al-Omar said: “This partnership highlights one of our main objectives, which is enhancing our employee experiences by providing them with training and qualifications which also extends to various government and private sector employees in order to contribute to the localization of jobs. The trainings will be available to industries and services related to aviation or by providing qualitative training programs for other parties to serve their development and localization plans.” His Excellency Dr. Ahmed bin Fahad Al-Fahaid said: “The Technical and Vocational Training Corporation is committed to foster the partnerships between public and private sectors due to their positive impact in providing qualified national cadres armed with the highest levels of advanced training. These partnerships also contribute to supporting the Kingdom’s localization plan by providing training solutions to Saudis. We appreciate The Colleges of Excellence Company’s efforts in qualifying national competencies and its role in providing job opportunities for graduates across all fields.” Prince Sultan Aviation Academy is one of the leading entities specialized in technical and administrative training within the aviation industry. PSAA is equipped with all the qualities required for success including training facilities, equipment, and qualified employees which allows the academy to hold a variety of intensive training …

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Saudi introduces first of its kind, a new stopover visa

Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism (MT), Ministry of Interior (MOI), the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah (MOHU), Saudi Tourism Authority (STA), SAUDIA and flynas, has announced the launch of a new Stopover Visa.  The free-of-charge Stopover Visa is open to a wider number of countries than the historic tourism eVisa and is Saudi’s latest move to make the destination more accessible. In Q1 this year airline capacity into Saudi Arabia is expected to grow by over 65% compared to the same period in 2022 when four of the Top Ten busiest international routes were to or from Saudi. The Stopover Visa will allow passengers to stay in the country for up to 96 hours, enabling more visitors than ever to explore Saudi’s incomparable historical, cultural, and spiritual sites. Travelers will also be able to use the Stopover Visa to perform the spiritual Umrah ritual. Spiritual travelers can book flights through SAUDIA and flynas, but must also register for Umrah through the Nusuk platform. Even more exciting for visitors, Stopover Visa holders will be eligible for a complimentary one-night hotel stay during the stopover when booking through SAUDIA. To help visitors make the most of their stopover, custom 24, 48, 72 and 96-hour itineraries have been developed to inspire visitors to stroll through Jeddah’s Al-Balad, or visit the Al-Turaif district in Diriyah, one of Saudi’s six UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Visitors can also use the Stopover Visa to break up long-haul flights or book a bonus trip to experience Saudi’s burgeoning entertainment and seasonal events calendar or even extend a business trip on the way to their final destination. The Stopover Visa application will …

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SAUDIA becomes the first airline to offer “your ticket your visa” service

SAUDIA, the national flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, has announced the launch of “Your Ticket Your Visa”. The first-of-its-kind service provides guests with even easier access to the Kingdom through a digital integration system that links transit visas with flight tickets. “Your Ticket Your Visa” service is introduced in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, the Pilgrims Service Program, and the Saudi Tourism Authority. The new service, which covers all international airports in the Kingdom, will allow guests to stay in the Kingdom for up to 96 hours, during which they can travel around the Kingdom and perform Umrah. The digital integration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs facilitates the issuing of the transit visa and links it to the flight ticket within three minutes. Captain Ibrahim Koshy, CEO of SAUDIA, said: “The launch of this innovative and seamless Stopover Visa is the first of its kind in the aviation industry and a significant milestone in our digital transformation program. It is a testament to SAUDIA’s commitment to supporting the Kingdom’s strategic goal of reaching 100 million visits by 2030 and we are confident it will positively impact the growing number of transit passengers while enhancing our position as a hub that connects East and West. The new service will also encourage passengers to perform Umrah, visit key destinations and attend events and Saudi seasons.” The launch of the new service comes in line with SAUDIA’s commitment to promote King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah and strengthen its role in the region by configuring SAUDIA’s flights coming from the east and departing to the west, facilitating travel procedures by …

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SAUDIA kicks off 2023 by increasing seat capacity for international flights by 40% to serve tourism, Hajj and umrah sectors

SAUDIA Group is continuing to implement its operational plan for 2023 by boosting its international presence and market share by increase its seating capacity by 40% on high-demand destinations. The ambitious plan aims to expand SAUDIA’s network, connect international visitors with the Kingdom, and strengthen Saudi’s tourism, Hajj, and Umrah sectors. The plan also includes an increase in domestic flights and seating capacity. SAUDIA has allocated over 25.3m seats for international flights in 2023 across almost 90,000 flights, up 40% from 2022. Similarly, seating capacity on domestic flights for 2023 has been increased by about half a million seats to reach over 17.8m seats, with the total number of domestic flights exceeding 102,100. The update to the company’s flight schedule and operations are designed to meet growing customer demand and further increase convenience in flight schedules throughout the year, and in particular during demand-peak seasons. Captain Ibrahim Koshy, CEO of SAUDIA, said: “We plan to build on SAUDIA’s operational success of last year with a strategic plan that further enhances SAUDIA’s reputation for meeting our guests’ needs and delivering performance excellence. Since the beginning of the new year, we have seen steadily increasing demand on already-popular routes. By expanding capacity and enhancing flight schedules SAUDIA is able to offer increased flexibility to customers and better manage its operational requirements in light of the significant challenges facing the aviation industry.” SAUDIA’s operational plan also features a number of new additions to its fleet. New Boeing B787 Dreamliner aircraft, with 24 business class seats and 333 economy class seats, will join SAUDIA’s fleet in 2023, along with the latest Airbus A321NX aircraft, that offer 20 business class seats and 168 economy class …

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SAUDIA and ADHLAL announce SAUDIA design program

SAUDIA participated in the second edition of the Saudi Design Festival (SDF) – an annual festival that aims to provide a platform to showcase local designers and talents- through “Design to Progress” panel discussion attended by HRH Princess Nourah Al-Faisal, Founder and CEO of Adhlal, and Group Chief Marketing Officer, Khaled Tash. The panel session witnessed the announcement of Adhlal as an “Advisory Partner” for SAUDIA to launch “SAUDIA Design Program” initiative. The initiative aims to create new opportunities for the Saudi design community to contribute to creating exceptional experiences for airline’s guests, and providing creative solutions to various challenges in the travel & tourism sector. The panel discussed several topics and highlighted the importance that SAUDIA places on creative designs, and its efforts to support all initiatives that would enable the creative and talented people in the Saudi community to help in providing exceptional experiences for SAUDIA’s guests that reflect the culture and values of the Kingdom. The collaboration between the two ends will result in developing and supporting the design sector and promote it as a means to inspiration and innovation. Khaled Tash also shed the light on the upcoming period which will witness the launch of “SAUDIA Design Program” initiative, demonstrating SAUDIA’s commitment to and ambassadorship of the Saudi design community, which in turn will contribute to developing design as a driving force in promoting the key values of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The first cycle of SAUDIA Design Program is expected to take place during Quarter 4, 2023. This initiative will provide opportunities for design students and professionals to contribute to providing inspiring solutions to various challenges in the travel industry. The second edition of …

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SAUDIA and SAR sign MOU to offer special train tickets to Makkah and Al Madinah

SAUDIA has signed an agreement with Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) to improve the quality of their shared services and provide more initiatives that improve the travel experience. Signed by the SAUDIA Chief Hajj & Umrah Officer, Mr. Amer AlKhushail, and the Executive Vice President of the Haramain High-Speed Railway (HHR) and Al Mashaeer, Engr. Rayan Al-Harbi, the agreement provides special prices for SAUDIA guests who are traveling to and from Makkah and Al Madinah via HHR. Later this year, SAUDIA and HHR booking systems will be linked, and Makkah will be added in the list of stations in the booking process. SAUDIA’s customers will be able to issue boarding passes for both the flight and train at the same time, whether through the website, digital application, or sales offices. Mr. AlKhushail said: “This agreement falls in line with SAUDIA’s commitment to improve the travel experience for guests through implementing digital solutions that address the needs of SAUDIA and HHR’s guests. These solutions remove time-consuming steps in finalizing travel procedures and help facilitate trips between Makkah and Al Madinah. This reflects the government’s commitment to make Hajj and Umrah pilgrim’s journey as smooth as possible through providing best-in-class services.” He added, “This is an additional service added to the long list of integrated services provided by SAUDIA to facilitate the journey for Hajj & Umrah pilgrims through providing world-class air transport and logistical services such as self-check-in services, on-board entertainment packages, and more.” Engr. Rayan Al-Harbi said: “The collaboration between SAR and SAUDIA will contribute effectively to enriching and upgrading the pilgrims’ experience, the integration of travel services is one of the many different efforts done to elevate and diversify the …

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Diriyah giga project to be unique with distinctive cultural and tourism landmarks in KSA

His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Prime Minister and Chairman of the Public Investment Fund (PIF) announced today the Diriyah Project as PIF’s fifth giga-project, reflecting Diriyah’s status as a unique destination with distinctive cultural, historical, and tourism landmarks. The announcement reflects HRH the Crown Prince’s efforts in enabling the Saudi cultural  identity, which includes the Diriyah Project due to its historic, cultural, and political value proudly showcasing to the world Saudi Arabia’s 300 years of history. Diriyah Project is a globally significant destination that includes the Turaif District UNESCO World Heritage Site. These cultural and historical aspects position Diriyah as an unrivaled destination of global significance where the authenticity of Saudi heritage can be celebrated, revealing the historic origins of modern Saudi Arabia. Tourists will have the opportunity to explore and get to know Saudi’s history, and its culture at the city’s museums and purpose-built pavilions. The Diriyah giga-project is expected to enable many strategic domestic sectors, create partnerships with the local private sector, and unlock many new investment opportunities throughout its development and production phases in sectors such as construction, operation and management of hotels, retail, entertainment, and cultural facilities, creating thousands of new job opportunities and providing a series of initiatives designed to contribute to enriching the quality of life for residents and visitors. Giga-projects form a key part of PIF’s strategy due to their ability to create new economic ecosystems that drive economic growth and diversification in Saudi Arabia. Diriyah becomes the fifth PIF giga-project after NEOM, Red Sea, Qiddiya, and Roshn projects. The Diriyah Project aligns with PIF’s strategy to focus on unlocking the capabilities of promising sectors, including tourism and …

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SAUDIA inaugurate new operations building in KAIA

Saudi Arabian Airlines (SAUDIA), the Kingdom’s national flag carrier, inaugurated its new SAUDIA Operations building at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah. The building, which boasts state-of-the-art infrastructure and technology, was inaugurated in a ceremony by His Royal Highness Prince Badr bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, the Deputy Governor of Makkah, and His Highness Prince Saud bin Abdullah bin Jalawi, Governor of Jeddah. The ceremony was attended by His Excellency Eng. Saleh bin Nasser Al Jasser, the Minister of Transport and Logistic Services and Chairman of Saudi Arabian Airlines Corporation and His Excellency Eng. Ibrahim Al-Omar, Director General of SAUDIA Group; along with members of SAUDIA’s Board of Directors, various KAIA officials, and members of the media. Using a mock-up of an aircraft engine throttle, HRH Prince Badr signaled the inauguration of the highly equipped building which is set to serve as a key enabler of the Saudi Aviation Strategy, under the Kingdom’s broader National Transport and Logistics Strategy. The new building will also support SAUDIA in its efforts to make KAIA a global hub.  Built entirely by Saudi Airlines Real Estate Development Company (SARED) over an area of 50,000 square meters, the two-story building can accommodate more than 1,100 employees. Throughout the building’s design, construction, and deployment stages, SARED prioritized the incorporation of and compliance with the highest safety and security standards. The environmentally friendly structure adheres to the highest international sustainability standards as well. It also aims to provide an ideal working environment that fosters productivity and innovation amongst its employees. The building is situated near the far side of the airport, providing both pilots and cabin crew members with easy aircraft access. It is a proper mini terminal, …

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SAUDIA and Malaysia Airlines sign codeshare agreement

Malaysia Airlines and SAUDIA have entered into a codeshare agreement, to expand destinations and travel options, offering passengers with seamless connections and airlines’ signature hospitality services in both the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Malaysia through on the flights of the two carriers, beginning 15 December 2022 subject to regulatory approval. With the partnership, Malaysia Airlines’ “MH” flight code will be added to several SAUDIA’ s flights with departures from Kuala Lumpur to Jeddah and Riyadh, as well as flights between the cities to Madinah and Cairo. Meanwhile, SAUDIA’ “SV” flight code will be added to Malaysia Airlines’ flights from Kuala Lumpur to several destinations including Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Penang. Travellers from the Far East and the Australian region will enjoy easy access via SAUDIA to the most prominent destinations in the Kingdom, such as Madinah and Al-Ula, to learn about the wonderful natural heritage sites in them, in addition to providing many trips to the Egyptian capital, Cairo. Passengers on board Malaysia Airlines will enjoy smooth connections to the most prominent tourist destinations in Penang which is famous for its location on the UNESCO World Heritage List and its picturesque beaches, in addition to Australian cities, namely Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide. Commenting on this topic, Group Chief Executive Officer of Malaysia Airlines, Captain Izham Ismail, “We are delighted to welcome SAUDIA as our new codeshare partner to leverage each other’s network, allowing two full-service carriers to expand their operations to South East Asia and Australia as well as the Middle East respectively. This partnership will strengthen Malaysia Airlines’ presence in Saudi Arabia and build upon a strong relationship between the two carriers. It will also complement our double daily …

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