JEDDAH: Saudi Arabian Airlines' agreement with the SkyTeam Alliance will see much-improved services for passengers, according to Eng. Khaled Al-Mulhem, General Director of Saudia, who spoke at a press conference Monday at Laylaty Festival Hall, shortly after the deal was signed. The network of 13 airlines, whose members share information and coordinate their flights and connections that require traveling on different carriers, makes it easier for people to travel throughout the world. Al-Mulhem said that Saudia plans to be an active member of the alliance. Leo van Wijk, the SkyTeam chairman, said there will be increased revenue for Saudia from the agreement, apart from the improved passenger services. "We are going to make an assessment soon. It is important to avoid overlap in the network. We as SkyTeam are working to fill the shortage of flights to all destinations," he said. He said there are plans to fill the gap in the Middle East, India and Latin America. He said SkyTeam are already operating in China, Indonesia and Vietnam. He added that aviation in Saudi Arabia is developing at a rapid pace because of the high number of passengers coming to Makkah and Madina, Riyadh, and the Eastern Province, which is a world center of energy. Abdul Aziz Al-Hazmi, Deputy General Director of Saudia and head of the joint executive team, said the agreement was a historic day for Saudia and other airlines. "Saudi Airlines has selected SkyTeam because it is one of the largest alliances in aviation in the world. It is growing rapidly and covers many areas of the world," he said. He said the SkyTeam Alliance will play a vital role in developing the services of Saudia. "As a result of this alliance our passengers could find transit flights from the airports of SkyTeam in Paris, Milan and Amsterdam to travel to many destinations in Europe, North and South America, and China through China Southern Airlines, which is one of the main partners of the alliance," he said. Al-Hazmi said the new Saudia fleet will help it achieve its aims and objectives. "We have already received 39 airplanes," Al-Hazmi said. Through Saudia's major hubs in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam, travelers can connect to 35 new destinations in the Arabian Peninsula, India and cities including Alexandria, Casablanca and Beirut. Saudi Arabian Airlines complements the SkyTeam network by offering customers access to destinations across the Middle East that are not served by SkyTeam members, he added. Through Saudia's major hubs in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam, travelers can connect to 35 new destinations in the Arabian Peninsula, India and cities including Alexandria, Casablanca and Beirut. SkyTeam partners will have access to new customers from the region, as Saudia offers direct flights to Europe, Asia, Africa and the US. Customers can transfer at SkyTeam hubs such as Paris, Rome, Nairobi and New York to destinations in Europe, Africa and North and South America.
