Saudia director general Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser speaks during the airline’s executive meeting at King Abdullah Economic City in Rabigh.

Saudi Arabian Airlines will have a total of 200 aircraft by the next five years, said Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, director general of the national flag carrier.

In a statement issued on Monday, he also disclosed plans to increase Saudia’s domestic flights and expand operations to new international destinations.

Al-Jasser’s statement follows a three-day executive meeting at King Abdullah Economic City in Rabigh, titled “Together shaping our future.”

He said that Saudia, which celebrates its 70th anniversary this year, plans to double its achievements during the next seven years.

Spelling out future objectives, the director general said: “We’ll increase the number of aircraft from 119 to 200 by 2020 and increase the number of passengers by improving services.” Saudia transported more than 28 million last year.

Al-Jasser emphasized the airline’s capability to make required changes with the support of its highly qualified executives and other employees.

“We would like to make use the untapped capabilities of our workers,” he said while launching its five-year SV2020 strategic plan.

During the workshop in Rabigh, Saudia executives discussed 20 major initiatives to transform them into working programs and implement 10 initiatives this year. Working teams presented their plans to implement the programs.

During the executive meeting, the airline’s strategic plan for the next five years (2015-2020) was endorsed. Prepared by an international consultancy firm, the plan aims at making Saudia one of the best airlines in the world that give maximum care to passengers and work for customer satisfaction.

The plan focuses on ensuring the security and safety of passengers and aircraft, providing advanced training to staff, rationalization of expenditures, diversification of revenue and optimum use of human and material resources.

Al-Jasser highlighted the airline’s achievements over the past years.

“This is not enough. The world around us is changing abruptly. Even government performance, which is usually slow, has changed and improved,” he said while stressing the importance of embracing change for a brighter future.

He urged employees to build on the airline’s achievements.

“We have a strong foundation to build on it in order to reach new heights of progress and prosperity,” the director general said.

Al-Jasser said he was not demanding something impossible.

“What we need is to manage our objectives, make use of opportunities and work as one team. Change is not easy and we may face some obstacles. But change is essential to achieve our corporate objectives,” he said.

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