Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia’s new national airline, has entered a five-year strategic partnership with SATS Saudi Arabia (a subsidiary of SATS Ltd) to enhance cargo handling at Saudi’s key airports, most notably at Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport (RUH). The agreement supports major cargo operations not only at RUH, but also at Dammam (DMM) and Jeddah (JED) airports. A key focus is on developing advanced hub management capabilities for Riyadh Air, positioning the airline to realize Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goal of handling an annual 4.5 million tons of air cargo.
SATS Saudi Arabia will manage the existing 60,000 m² Riyadh airfreight terminal. It is equipped with special areas for sensitive cargo such as pharmaceuticals, e-commerce, live animals, valuables, and dangerous goods. Riyadh Air gains immediate access to SATS’ global network of over 225 stations and 250+ airline partners/freight forwarders. Centralized cargo and security control centers, real-time supervision and seamless cargo coordination across the airline’s expanding network should ensure quality service. SATS will also implement its COSYS+ Next Generation Cargo Management System, introducing digital and automated solutions to boost operational efficiency. This integrated approach will allow Riyadh Air to deliver a comprehensive suite of cargo products – strengthening its position in both the regional and global cargo markets.
Adam Boukadida, Chief Financial Officer at Riyadh Air, commented: “This partnership with SATS Saudi Arabia marks a pivotal milestone in Riyadh Air’s journey to become a leading global carrier. By leveraging SATS’ advanced cargo handling capabilities and global network, we are laying a strong foundation to build a world-class air cargo offering from day one. This collaboration enables us to deliver operational excellence, high-value logistics solutions, and strategic connectivity across key global trade lanes – directly supporting Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 aspirations to position the Kingdom as a premier global logistics hub.”
Bob Chi, CEO Gateway Services Asia Pacific, SATS Ltd., said: “We are honored that Riyadh Air has selected SATS as a trusted partner for its ambitious cargo growth journey. This partnership represents strategic alignment between Riyadh Air’s ambition to connect over 100 destinations globally by 2030 and our commitment to provide our customers with world-class air cargo solutions.”
