Some 13.73 million air passengers chose Saudi Arabian Airlines (SV) as their carrier in 2001, a 1.7 percent increase compared to the previous year. In the summer alone, the airline transported 4.5 million passengers, confirmed the official SPA news agency.
Despite the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States, Saudi Arabian Airlines carried over two million Muslim travelers, performing the Umra pilgrimage from October to December, and the carrier expects to transport some 779,000 pilgrims during the Haj season next month.
SV, established in 1945 now has some one hundred and thirty-two aircraft, recently augmented its fleet with the acquisition of 61 Boeing 747-400s, 777-200s, MD-11s and MD-90s. 53 of these aircraft have already been received and introduced into service thus making the Airline's fleet among the youngest in the world. — (menareport.com)
© 2002 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
