Saudi Airlines Cargo Company (Saudia Cargo) carried a record 251,500 tonnes of cargo in the first half of 2012. This growth represents an increase of 26% in tonnage carried and 25% in revenue compared to the same period in 2011.
Fahad Hammad, CEO of Saudia Cargo, said: “We experienced all-time records in May and June 2012. The main contributors to our growth were exports from Europe, East Africa and the UAE as well as cargo from our network into Saudi Arabia and West Africa. We expect the growth spurt to continue in the second half of 2012.”
The volume growth mainly attributes to Saudia Cargo’s expanding freighter network which in April 2012 saw the introduction of new routes in Frankfurt, Vienna, Ho Chi Min City and Dubai. In the first six months Saudia Cargo increased its capacity in Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Lagos, N’Djamena and Europe.
The cargo airline, which is the largest freighter operator in the Middle East, largely attributes its impressive growth to its expanding freighter network (60% tonnages, 50% capacity). The main contributors to growth were exports from Europe (75%) and East Africa (65%), with additional growth in the UAE being generated as a result of an increase to five freighter flights per week. Capacity and tonnage on the SV belly network remained stable in 2012 compared to 2011.
Charters continued to play a pivotal role within Saudia Cargo, which remains the only airline with dedicated charter aircraft in the region. Major growth in the charter business is expected in the second half of the year due to the addition of two dedicated freighters.
Saudia Cargo operates scheduled and charter freighter services with 13 freighters and sells the belly-capacity on 145 passenger aircraft for Saudi Arabia’s flag carrier Saudia spanning a rapidly expanding global network of 225 destinations. The cargo airline also provides cost effective and practical worldwide charter flight solutions from a growing fleet of dedicated B747 freighters.