JEDDAH — The board of Saudi Arabian Airlines will purchase 100 new aircraft from Airbus and Boeing in line with its five year plan from 2015-2020. Saudi Arabian Airlines Director General Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser said recently the plan is meant to strengthen operational efficiency as part of the continuous modernization of the fleet. Previously Saudia ordered 90 state-of-the-art aircraft from Boeing and Airbus and all but 12 of them have not been delivered, according to local media sources. Growing domestic passenger requirements and the expansion of the airline's international operations make this purchase necessary. The five-year strategic plan includes the empowerment of the airline staffs and the modernization of airline infrastructures and strategic units. The potentials and resources of the company were also taken into consideration as Jasser stated that “the completion of the airline's privatization process” was also included. At the board meeting, it was voiced that the plan will yield positive results because it was prepared in collaboration with a specialized international consultancy firm. The board noted that one of the challenges facing the company is the disruptions of its operations by sandstorms. Airlines have been obliged to delay or postpone their scheduled flights when airports are hit by it due to passenger and aircraft safety. Many airports are affected by it in Saudi Arabia. Measures to reduce the effect of weather changes were discussed by the board. Sulaiman Al-Humaidan, president of the General Authority of Civil Aviation, also the chairman of Saudi Arabian Airlines, chaired the meeting. — SG/Agencies
