Saudia: The Saudi Flag Carrier Between Hajj, Umrah and the SkyTeam Network

History and positioning

Born as an offshoot of the American airline TWA in the 1940s at the request of the Saudi government, Saudia has grown into one of the leading carriers of the Middle East, while remaining distinct in its service culture from Gulf competitors such as Emirates or Qatar Airways: no alcohol is served on board, in line with the country's rules, and the entertainment and catering offer is calibrated to a clientele that comes largely from Islamic countries.

Routes and network

From Jeddah and Riyadh the network extends to the main European capitals, several North American cities, East Asia and Southeast Asia, in addition to a very extensive domestic network that connects all the main Saudi cities. SkyTeam membership also provides code-share connections with partners such as Air France-KLM, Delta Air Lines and Korean Air.

The fleet

The fleet combines Boeing 777 and 787 Dreamliner widebodies for long-haul, Airbus A330s on intermediate routes and Airbus A320s for short- and medium-haul regional and domestic flying. It is a fleet sized to handle both regular traffic and the seasonal pilgrimage peaks, when the airline significantly increases frequencies to Jeddah and Medina.

What passengers say

Reviews on international portals describe a generally well-regarded Business Class service, with modern cabins on the latest 787s and 777s, while opinions on Economy are more mixed, especially in periods of peak traffic linked to the pilgrimage, when punctuality and baggage handling tend to worsen because of the exceptional volumes handled.

Saudia is a solid choice for those traveling to Saudi Arabia for tourism, work or pilgrimage who want a broad network with SkyTeam connections, while those looking for an onboard service with alcoholic drinks or an atmosphere similar to that of the Gulf competitors should keep in mind the religious rules that govern the entire onboard service. Those flying during Hajj or Umrah should book as far in advance as possible, since demand in those windows far exceeds that of a normal period of the year.