Four of the aircraft to be taken out of service are ‘747’ jumbo jets.

Director General of Saudi Arabian Airlines, (Saudia) Saleh Al-Jasser, has announced that 19 planes will be taken out of service during the upcoming period, of which 15 are the Embraer type and four ‘747’ jumbo jets.

During the ceremony for the laying of the cornerstone of the new air operations building in Jeddah, he said that Saudia has a fleet of 124 passenger aircraft and the number is expected to rise to 200 by 2020.

Saudia will receive its new Dream Liner planes next December, he said, adding that its first commercial flight will completed at the beginning of 2016.

Al-Jasser pointed out that women will also be employed in administrative jobs.

He said that the privatization of the catering company of Saudia has reached its final stages now, and will be put on the stock market for public subscription shortly. The privatization of ground services has also reached its final stages as well.

He also noted that the new operations building will used by Saudia’s employees and will be completed along with the New King Abdulaziz Airport, which will cost SR350 million.

Al-Jasser revealed that the company will also be undertaking a significant project to support its expansion in future stages by tendering a license for a Saudi city in Al-Khalidiya neighborhood. The city will be constructed over a space of 1.5 million square meters and will include commercial and residential towers. He said this project will achieve economic returns for the company that will help it expand and develop.

Al-Jasser also noted that the headquarters of the company will be one of its landmarks in addition to other buildings such as the Prince Sultan Academy, while all old buildings will be replaced with new investment buildings for the company.

In a related matter, President of the General Authority for Civil Aviation, Suleiman Al-Hamdan, said that the new King Abdulaziz International Airport will be completed in mid 2016, and that one year will be needed to test the equipment, which means actual operations will commence in the middle of 2017.

He further said that the new operation’s building will serve as the central point of reference for aviation companies and their growing developments, calling for the need to provide a perfect working environment to guarantee high quality performance right across the sector. He said that this field doesn’t accept delay, and rather only accepts distinction and complete accuracy.

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