Awwal 14, 1432 / April 18, 2011, SPA -- In its 22nd ordinary session held under the chairmanship of its Deputy Speaker Dr. Bandar bin Mohammed Hamza Hajjar, the Shoura Council today discussed a report on the annual performance of the Saudi Arabian Airlines (SAUDIA) for the fiscal years 1428/1429 - 1430/1431 H. Following the meeting, Dr. Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Ghamdi, Secretary General of the Shoura Council, said the members raised enquiries about the losses SAUDIA was incurring over the past years, requesting its administration to develop the company's website and demanding that the company should become a rich tributary of the country's development, particularly in the touristy field. They summoned the Director General of the company for testimony before the Shoura Council in a future session to answer a wave of questions from the floor. The report gave an account on the steps taken for privatization of the company and noted the decline of Saudization rates in the country's national carrier. The report cited five major obstacles facing the company. They are: the fall of domestic air transportation revenues, negative impacts in the international air transportation arena, high cost of modernizing the company's fleet, man force-related challenges and operative difficulties in major domestic airports. The members then discussed a report on the annual performance of the Ministry of Water and Electricity for the fiscal years 1428/1429 - 1430/1431 H. Discussion was also adjourned to a future session.
