Saudia Q1 passenger traffic grows 26%

Saudi Arabian Airlines transported 5.72 million passengers in the first quarter of 2012, an increase of 1.17 million passengers or 26 percent more than 4.56 million passengers carried in the same period last year, according to an operational report issued by the national carrier. Saudia Director General Khaled Al-Mulhim attributed the increase in the number of passengers to the strategy of maximum utilization of the company's potentials with new fleets of aircraft. "There have been continuous efforts around the clock to utilize the newly acquired aircraft which, in turn, increased the seating capacity and number of flights," Al-Mulhim said. The flights operated totaled 37,920, 14 percent higher, compared to 33,384 flights in the same period last year. The report also showed a 25 percent growth in the number of domestic passengers at 3.46 million compared to 2.77 million in the same period last year. In all 27,048 flights were operated in this quarter as against 23,370 flights in the same period last year. The report pointed out a 27 percent increase in the number of passengers in the international sector at 2.26 million compared to 1.78 million last year. International flights operated during the quarter were 10,872, 9 percent more than 10,014 flights in Q1 2011.