Saudi Arabian Airlines, now known as Saudia, joins SkyTeam and adds 35 dest

[Edevelop]

Flag carrier Saudi Arabian Airlines formally joined the SkyTeam alliance on 29-May-2012, becoming the alliance's 16th global member and first member from the Middle East. The carrier also used the occasion to re-brand, adopting its old name of "Saudia". The membership in SkyTeam of Saudia, the fourth largest carrier in the Middle East based on ASKs, along with the impending membership of Lebanon’s Middle East Airlines, will fill the long-standing Middle East black spot in the alliance’s global network coverage. Rivals Star and oneworld already have members from the Middle East/North Africa region.

Saudia’s membership provides SkyTeam with access to 35 new destinations, on top of the 926 destinations in 173 countries already served by the alliance’s members. Most of the destinations that Saudia adds are located in the Gulf region and wider Arabian peninsula, although there are also several destinations in South Asia that will be added.

Saudia network summary: 03-Jun-2012
Total non-stop passenger destinations 89
Domestic 26
Africa 12
Asia Pacific 19
Schengen Europe 1
Other Europe 7
Latin America 0
Middle East 23
North America 2
Total non-stop freighter destinations 23
Domestic 3
Africa 4
Asia Pacific 6
Europe 5
Latin America 0
Middle East 3
North America 2

More detailed info : Saudi Arabian Airlines, now known as Saudia, joins SkyTeam and adds 35 destinations | CAPA

 

[Mosamania]

Oh bad choice SkyTeam. You wil now have to deal with the worst airlines the world has ever known.

 

[Bubblegum Crisis]

^^

The new airport KAIA


By MD HUMAIDAN

Published: Jan 12, 2011 00:35 Updated: Jan 12, 2011 01:00

JEDDAH: Crown Prince Sultan, deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, laid the foundation stone for the new King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA) project on Tuesday and said the project is a gift from Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah to Saudis and foreign pilgrims.

Prince Sultan watched a presentation on the project that will increase the airport’s capacity from 17 million to 30 million passengers. The new airport is designed in the form of two crescents to reflect its position as the main gateway to the two holy mosques.

Prince Fahd bin Abdullah, assistant minister of defense and aviation, said the new airport would have advanced facilities. “The amount allocated for the project is not huge compared to the facilities it would have and similar airports in other parts of the world,” he told reporters.

He said the first phase of the project, which includes construction of a new terminal with 94 aircraft bays, 46 departure gates, five passenger lounges, 96 airway bridges and a 56-room hotel for transit passengers, would be completed in 36 months.

He emphasized the General Authority of Civil Aviation’s new strategy to add economic value to its airports by operating them on a commercial basis and offering a lot of investment projects to the private sector. “The KAIA will be made a central hub in the region to boost air traffic,” he pointed out.

Abdullah Rehaimi, president of GACA, said the new airport project, estimated to cost more than SR27 billion (US$ 7 Billion) in the first phase, would be financed by KAIA’s present and future revenues.

Prince Sultan signed two contracts worth SR27.1 billion (US$ 7 Billion) with Saudi Binladin Group last November to carry out the KAIA expansion project.

“The project aims at making the KAIA a high-tech airport that can receive huge aircraft and be a hub to link the East and the West providing numerous investment opportunities and jobs for Saudis,” said Rehaimi.

As part of the first contract, worth SR15.12 billion (US$ 4 Billion), a 670,000-square-meter terminal with 94 aircraft bays will be constructed to replace the present terminals for Saudia and foreign airlines.

The second contract — worth SR11.97 billion (US$ 3 Billion) — covers construction of the world’s tallest air-traffic control tower at 133 meters, parking lots to accommodate 8,200 vehicles, three power generation and cooling centers, data administration centers, infrastructure and road networks.


ARAB NEWS

In link with KSA “Haramain High Speed Railway between Mecca and Medina”

Saudi Binladin Group

In 2002, the company had 35,000 employees worldwide and was worth $ 5 billion

King Abdullah Financial District, Riyadh (built by Saudi Binladin Group)

May 2012




See the top of the picture

 

[Bubblegum Crisis]

Diagram of “Airport KAIA”




First phase

 

[Banu Umayyah]

Oh please bubblegum, billions of dollars and it will still suck. The worst airport ever. When you mention Binladen projects you must include their 50% robberies.

 

[Bubblegum Crisis]

Oh please bubblegum, billions of dollars and it will still suck. The worst airport ever. When you mention Binladen projects you must include their 50% robberies.

Prince Fahd bin Abdullah, assistant minister of defense and aviation, said the new airport would have advanced facilities. “The amount allocated for the project is not huge compared to the facilities it would have and similar airports in other parts of the world,” he told reporters.

...

Abdullah Rehaimi, president of GACA, said the new airport project, estimated to cost more than SR27 billion (US$ 7 Billion) in the first phase, would be financed by KAIA’s present and future revenues.

...

“The project aims at making the KAIA a high-tech airport that can receive huge aircraft and be a hub to link the East and the West providing numerous investment opportunities and jobs for Saudis,” said Rehaimi.