RIYADH: Saudi Arabia's national carrier has topped a list of global airlines with an on-time arrival rate of 88.22 percent in June, according to new data from independent flight tracking website Cirium.
Saudi Arabia also recorded an on-time departure rate of 88.73 percent while operating 16,133 flights across a network of more than 100 destinations across four continents.
The achievement is significant as June is the peak travel month for Muslims to perform the annual Hajj pilgrimage and is also a summer season. This year, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia saw around 2 million tourists during the Hajj season.
King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh also topped the list for the world's best on-time performance in June for the second month in a row, according to the same report.
The growth comes amid continued growth in Saudi Arabia’s aviation sector, which is set to contribute $21 billion to Saudi Arabia’s gross domestic product by 2023, further cementing the country’s position as a global tourism hub.
The National Transport and Logistics Strategy aims to increase the aviation industry's contribution to GDP from the current 6 percent to 10 percent by 2030.
“This achievement is a result of our strategic objective of increasing operational efficiency and quality through continuous improvement in flight schedules and the adoption of best-in-class digital solutions and systems for operational management,” said Ibrahim Al-Omar, General Director of Saudia Group.
“Maintaining a high level of on-time performance requires a great deal of effort, as it involves overcoming many operational challenges in the aviation industry, such as weather conditions, high temperatures, technical issues, and other airport-related factors,” he added.
Saudi Arabia has consistently ranked among the world's top 10 airlines for on-time performance since last year, reflecting its commitment to maintaining high quality standards and air safety, the company said.
Our operations are coordinated through one of the largest integrated operations control centres in the Middle East, utilising the latest technology for onboard communications to ensure smooth operations by monitoring all procedures related to aircraft take-off and landing in real time at all domestic and international airports.
King Khalid International Airport's top ranking by Cirium underscores its commitment to operational excellence and serves as a catalyst for continuous improvement, said Ayman Aboabah, CEO of Riyadh Airports Co., as reported by Saudi Press Agency.
“This excellence reflects our commitment to quality and operational efficiency, which inspires us to continue working with our partners at King Khalid International Airport to provide the best travel experience and the highest level of service to our passengers,” he added.
“King Khalid International Airport is a national landmark that reflects the Kingdom’s status and future aspirations in line with Vision 2030 objectives,” said Aboabah.
He stressed the importance of his staff’s commitment to maintaining the highest standards of performance, which he said was a hallmark of airport staff, and their continued efforts to improve the passenger experience.
King Khalid International Airport has been recognised as the world's most punctual airport, coming in third place in Cirium's January rankings. The airport climbed to number one in May and retained its position in June, reflecting its rapid and remarkable progress over the past period.
