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infrastructure: aviation saudi arabia 2012


AIRPORT EXPANSION


The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) revealed last February that the government had sanc- tioned a US$666 million investment in the Kingdom's airports. The project currently involves expanding 23 hubs, developing a new airport in Al Taif on the western mountains and extending Najran airport in the south. Among the hubs being redeveloped, King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah will be able to handle an additional 17 million passengers each year, once the first phase is completed this year. A new terminal complex to replace the existing north and south terminals will be built at a cost of US$4.53 billion as part of the initial stage of development. When complete, the new 678,000-square- metre complex will have 42 gates. Expansion is also taking place at Prince Mohammed Bin Abdulaziz Airport in Medina to increase the hub's passenger capac- ity by 14 million every year up to 2016. The two-phase project involves building a new passenger terminal, renovating the existing runway and possibly building a second one. Expansion plans have reportedly also been approved by Saudi's General Authority for Civil Aviation for King Khaled International Airport in Riyadh. The project will involve improving passenger services and the hub's commercial operations and boosting its annual capacity from 13 to 25 million people.


BUSINESS CLASS


First-class services are available with Saudi Arabian Airlines, which offers Arabic and western cuisine, flat beds that recline 180 degrees and entertainment systems with up to 40 movies, TV and radio channels. Passengers in business class are also treated to similar levels of in-flight entertainment and cuisine.


BUDGET CARRIERS


Nas Air, launched in February 2007, has grown rapidly and today operates more than 450 weekly services to over 30 domestic and international destinations. The airline is a subsidiary of Saudi National Air Services (NAS), based in Saudi Arabia's capital, Riyadh and is the Kingdom's first low-cost carrier.


Nas Air has positioned itself as the young- est fleet in Saudi Arabia, with affordable easy-to-purchase fares. Customers seeking the best-value travel within the region can select the services and options appropri- ate to their travel needs. Corporate clients can, not only enjoy discounted fares, but more flexibility in terms and conditions. Early in 2008 the airline was already serving more than 20 destinations with low-fare flights and in April that year it began to operate a fleet of brand new Airbus A320 and Embraer aircraft, so giving it the youngest aircraft fleet in the Middle East. Currently, Nas Air flies to over 30


destinations including: Riyadh; Jeddah; Calicut; Madinah; Abu Dhabi; Dammam; Beirut; Damascus; Alexandria; Istanbul; Kuwait; and Adana.


In January 2011, the airline announced the launch of flights to Delhi as part of its regional and international expan- sion strategy. The service operates three times a week between Riyadh and New Delhi. Flights to Sohaj in Egypt were also introduced following a period of rapid expansion, adding six other destinations (Aleppo, Khartoum, Dubai, Mumbai, Calicut and Cochin) to its network during 2010. The carrier added Embraer E190s to its growing fleet in December 2010, with three A320s scheduled to arrive this year. In February 2011 Nas Air launched a mobile 'app' of the company's website, designed to be easily viewable on all mobile operating systems, such as iPhones, Black- berrys and Android devices, allowing custom- ers to communicate with Nas Air anytime, anywhere. Chief of information technology at NAS Holding Abdullah Al-Ghanim said: "Our valued customers can now use the system to make flight reservations and pay for them, whether through a credit card or the SADAD e-payment system, change reservation details and enquire about flight schedules." Al-Ghanim also announced the imminent launch of a service to allow boarding passes to be issued via mobile phones in the form of an SMS (text message). "This reaffirms that Nas Air is leading the industry," he added.


EXCLUSIVE CHARTERS With Saudi Arabia commanding half of the air charter business in the Middle East, a vibrant well-established private jet market offers long-term potential for investment and a high-end prod- uct for the discerning customer. NasJet is the private aviation arm of the National Air Services Group (NAS) and is the largest and fastest-growing private jet operator in the Middle East. Established by Royal Decree in 1999 and originally branded NetJets Middle East, it was the first private company in Saudi Arabia to be awarded the Aircraft Operating Certificate (AOC) by the General Authority of Civil Aviation. The com- pany has since grown to manage in access of 70 Middle East-based corporate aircraft with a fleet value exceeding US$1.5 billion. NasJet has a number of global part- ners supporting its service, enabling it to provide guaranteed availability and interchange. It also has a close work- ing relationship with leading corporate jet manufacturers, such as Airbus, Boeing, Gulfstream, Dassault and Hawker and a highly experienced 24/7, 365-days-a-year charter department based in Riyadh. Saudi Private Aviation (SPA), the private aviation unit of Saudi Arabian Airlines, joined Comlux Aviation Group last year to develop VIP charter markets in Saudi Arabia. With future fixed-base operations in Jeddah, Riyadh and Dammam, the two parties are now providing private clients with a VIP fleet and developing their customer bases in the region. Private jet company Royal Jet and aircraft support services firm ARABASCO have also renewed their operational alliance and continue to position both a Boeing Business Jet and a Gulfstream 300 at key hubs in Jeddah and Riyadh to better serve the Saudi market.


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