Historic Year for Saudia: Thirty Seven Million Flyers in 2025 as Global Travel Demand Fuels Aircraft and Tour Expansion

Saudia, the national flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, marked a remarkable performance in 2025, transporting a total of 37 million passengers, reflecting a 6% increase in traffic compared to the previous year. With this substantial growth, the airline has strengthened its role in connecting the Kingdom with the rest of the world while facilitating global travel for millions of passengers. The airline’s aircraft played a pivotal role in supporting this surge in tour and travel demand, ensuring seamless connectivity and continued expansion across its global network.

Operating over 203.9 thousand flights to more than 100 destinations, Saudia has not only increased its flight frequency but also effectively catered to the rising demand across both domestic and international routes. The airline’s total flight hours reached approximately 597,000 hours, marking an increase of 2.5% compared to 2024, indicating enhanced operational efficiency and an expanding network.

Strategic Growth in Global Connectivity

Saudia’s international network expansion was a key driver behind its strong performance in 2025. The airline continued to grow its transit traffic, which saw an 8.4% increase, with over 3.2 million passengers using Saudia as a connecting airline through Saudi airports. This growth highlights the company’s strategic focus on efficient operational planning, particularly during peak travel seasons.

By expanding its route network, Saudia enhanced connectivity between Saudi Arabia and major global destinations, including a notable inclusion of Moscow as a new destination in 2025. Saudia’s international reach continues to support the Kingdom’s broader goals under the Saudi Aviation Strategy to become a central aviation hub by 2030.

Saudi Aviation Strategy and Saudia’s Contribution

H.E. Engr. Ibrahim Al-Omar, the Director General of Saudia Group, emphasized the importance of consistent operational growth and high on-time performance in meeting the objectives of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy.

Saudia’s performance is aligned with Saudi Arabia’s vision of establishing itself as a global leader in aviation, serving 330 million passengers annually and connecting Saudi Arabia to over 250 global destinations by 2030. This vision is supported by Saudia’s continuous efforts in fleet expansion, service innovation, and maintaining industry-leading on-time performance.

The airline’s focus on key international events, such as the Hajj and Umrah seasons, as well as major sports and entertainment events, further contributes to its growing role in facilitating tourism and business travel to Saudi Arabia.

Improved Service and Fleet Enhancements

To meet growing demand and enhance customer experience, Saudia has made significant investments in upgrading its fleet, which now includes 149 modern aircraft. The carrier operates a youthful fleet with the latest technology and sustainability-focused features, ensuring comfort and efficiency for travelers. Additionally, Saudia’s consistent focus on on-time performance has earned it top rankings, particularly in global airline rankings, with the carrier named as the “Best Airline Staff Service” for 2025 by Skytrax.

Saudia’s fleet expansion, paired with an optimized route network, allows it to provide flexible schedules and competitive prices for passengers flying to destinations across the Middle East, Asia, Europe, and the Americas. This operational growth aligns with the Kingdom’s focus on bolstering the local aviation infrastructure to meet future demands.

Fulfilling the Vision 2030 Commitment

Saudia’s progress in 2025 is not only an indicator of the airline’s resilience and adaptability but also a reflection of the broader national commitment to achieving the Vision 2030 economic diversification goals. The airline’s performance complements Saudi Arabia’s ambitions to boost its tourism sector, with the aviation industry serving as a crucial pillar in expanding both leisure and business travel.

The national flag carrier’s continued success strengthens its position as the main air carrier for visitors traveling to Saudi Arabia for cultural, religious, and business purposes, further positioning the Kingdom as a global destination.

Outlook for the Future

Looking ahead to 2026, Saudia is expected to continue its upward trajectory, with further expansions in its network, services, and fleet. As part of its growth strategy, Saudia is set to play a pivotal role in connecting Saudi Arabia with emerging global markets and supporting the country’s expanding tourism sector.

With its unwavering commitment to service excellence, operational efficiency, and strategic route development, Saudia is poised to remain a key player in the global aviation landscape, bringing the world to the Kingdom and supporting Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 objectives.