Saudi Arabian Airlines (IATA code: SV), also known as Saudia, is the national carrier airline of Saudi Arabia. Based in Jeddah, the airline’s main operational hub is located at King Abdulaziz International Airport. Using a fleet of 133 aircraft, Saudi Arabian Airlines operates domestic and international flights to more than 120 destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America. The airline also operated domestic and international charter flights, mostly during the Ramadan and the Hajj seasons. Founded in 1945, Saudi Arabian Airlines has gained a lot of international awards. Some of them are Best Fixed Networking Implementation Project of the Year 2012 from Network Innovation Awards 2012, CI050 Award for 2013, and Silver Plate from Royal Brunei Airlines for On Time Performance. The airline offers three different types of flight classes, which consist of Guest Class, Business Class, and First Class. Each class provides an in-flight entertainment system, but with different size of LCD monitor, as well as the in-flight meal service. For the First Class passengers, they will be offered with a selection of fresh fruit juices while waiting for the rest of the passengers to board. Shortly after takeoff, they will also be given a cardamom-flavored Arabic coffee and succulent dates. Another facility available for all passengers is the free baggage allowance. Guest Class passengers are entitled to carry one piece of baggage weighing 25 kg maximum. Meanwhile, the First Class and Business Class passengers can bring two pieces of baggage, each should not exceed the maximum weight of 25 kg. In addition to that, Guest Class passengers get to bring a cabin baggage with maximum weight of 7 kg and maximum dimension of 115 cm. This also applies to the Business and First Class passengers. They are allowed to carry a bag or handbag (maximum 115 cm) and a documents briefcase (maximum 100 cm). The total weight of both pieces cannot be exceeded 9 kg. All checked baggage must be dropped at the check-in counter. For the domestic routes, check-in will be closed 45 minutes prior to the scheduled flight, while the departure gates will be closed 15 minutes before the departure. For the international routes, check-in will be closed one hour prior to the scheduled flight, while the departure gates will be closed 20 minutes before the departure. In all cases, passengers on domestic flights must be at the airport two hours prior to the scheduled departure, and passengers on international flights must be at the airport three hours before the plane takes off. When checking in, Alfursan members may present their membership card. Alfursan is Saudi Arabian Airlines’ frequent flyer program. Members of Alfursan can earn miles when they fly with Saudi Arabian Airlines or SkyTeam partners. Accumulates miles can be redeemed for a range of benefits and rewards that include free tickets and upgrades, global lounge access, additional baggage allowance, and priority wait-listing. There are three tiers of Alfursan membership, which are Blue, Silver (SkyTeam Elite), and Gold (SkyTeam Elite Plus).

The journey of Saudi Arabian Airlines started in 1945 when the U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt gave a single twin-engine DC-3 (Dakota) HZ-AAX to King Abdul Aziz as a gift. Months later, the purchase of two more DC-3s took place. Saudi Arabian Airlines was then set up in 1946 as an operating agency of the Ministry of Defense, with its first airport and operating base was located at Kandara, near the downtown area of Jeddah. Haj pilgrims were flown to Jeddah from Lydda, Palestine, and other countries. During the same year, Saudi Arabian Airlines also requested permission for charter flights to London. The airline operated its first scheduled domestic service in March 1947. In 1963, Saudi Arabian Airlines was established as a corporation. By Royal Decree No. 45 dated February 19, 1963, signed by King Faisal, the airline became an autonomous entity, run by a Board of Directors and chaired by the Minister of Defense and Aviation. Two years later, more precisely in 1965, Saudi Arabian Airlines joined the Arab Air Carriers Organization (AACO) as a founding member on August 25th. In the same year, the airline also started its flight service to Bombay. Finally, in 1967, Saudi Arabian Airlines joined the International Air Transport Association (IATA), as well as opened new routes to Tunis, Rabat, Tripoli, Geneva, Frankfurt, and London. Throughout the 1970s, Saudi Arabian Airlines experienced quite some changes. In 1972, the airline adopted new livery and took the name Saudia. By this time, Saudi Arabian Airlines had been flying to 49 destinations on three continents. A year later, the airline carried one million scheduled passengers for the first time. In 1981, Saudi Arabian Airlines moved into an exclusive terminal at the newly opened King Abdul-Aziz International Airport in Jeddah. This year also marked the airline’s first nonstop service from Jeddah to New York. The service was the only nonstop flights covering four continents, linking Asia and America, and over flying Africa and Europe in between. Saudi Arabian Airlines celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1995. A year later, a new corporate identity was launched on July 16th. The official website also went online on December 4th. In 1999, Saudi Arabian Airlines was among the pioneers to stop smoking on its flights, with the ban on smoking on its domestic flights of less than two hours. By 2000, Saudi Arabian Airline was in a new era with H.R.H. Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz, Minister of Defense & Aviation signing a contract to conduct studies for the privatization of the airline on October 8th. On January 10th, 2011, Saudi Arabian Airlines signed an initial agreement to join SkyTeam global alliance, which at that time had currently a membership of 15 airlines. A year later, Saudi Arabian Airlines celebrated its joining of SkyTeam global alliance by signing agreements with member airlines on May 29th, 2012. Saudi Arabian Airlines became the 16th member of SkyTeam and the first member in the Middle East. This membership allows Saudi Arabian Airlines to expand its network. Saudi Arabian Airlines’ dedication in the aviation industry has made Skytrax raised the airline’s rating to 4-Star Airline. It also won the International awards for the best economy class seat and best first class in-flight entertainment.