عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Business

Saudia, Riyadh Air Sign Strategic Memorandum of Cooperation

Saudia and Riyadh Air announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding as part of a comprehensive agreement. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudia and Riyadh Air announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding as part of a comprehensive agreement. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
TT
TT

Saudia, Riyadh Air Sign Strategic Memorandum of Cooperation

Saudia and Riyadh Air announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding as part of a comprehensive agreement. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudia and Riyadh Air announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding as part of a comprehensive agreement. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudia and Riyadh Air announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding as part of a comprehensive agreement that includes operating flights using the shared code system, within joint efforts to better serve Saudi Arabia’s vision and ambitions in the aviation sector.

In a statement on Tuesday, the two companies said the MoU was the first major agreement between the carriers, and would lay solid foundations for a range of bilateral initiatives and agreements in the future.

In addition to enhancing the aviation sector in the Kingdom, this cooperation provides a comprehensive and diverse package of benefits for passengers travelling internationally and domestically within Saudi Arabia, including a broader range of destinations and services.

As part of the agreement, passengers on both carriers will be able to benefit from a wide range of advantages, explore code-share services and follow flights.

The deal will see the merging of the two carriers’ loyalty program so that travelers will be able to earn points or credits when traveling on code-share services operated by one of the two carriers.

Saudia CEO Capt. Ibrahim Koshy said: “We are very proud to form this strategic partnership with Riyadh Air, a cooperation that we consider to be an important turning point in the process of supporting the aviation sector. We are working to unify efforts to serve guests to and from the Kingdom, and we continue to move forward to achieve our ambitions to make a positive change in the aviation sector in general.”

Riyadh Air CEO Tony Douglas stated: “Riyadh Air and Saudia will play a significant part in the growth of travel tourism within the Kingdom and so having the national carriers working side-by-side is the best way to accelerate and manage this growth.”

He continued: “We are confident that Riyadh Air will raise the bar in air travel and working in cooperation with Saudia will help us achieve this as we prepare for take-off in 2025.”

Most Viewed

 
 
Business

Revenue Growth, Improved Operational Efficiency Boost Profitability of Saudi Telecom Companies

A man monitors the movement of stocks on the Saudi Tadawul index. (AFP)
A man monitors the movement of stocks on the Saudi Tadawul index. (AFP)
TT
TT

Revenue Growth, Improved Operational Efficiency Boost Profitability of Saudi Telecom Companies

A man monitors the movement of stocks on the Saudi Tadawul index. (AFP)
A man monitors the movement of stocks on the Saudi Tadawul index. (AFP)

Telecommunications companies listed on the Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul) achieved a 12.46 percent growth in their net profits, which reached SAR 4.07 billion ($1.09 billion) during the second quarter of 2024, compared to SAR 3.62 billion ($965 million) during the same period last year.

They also recorded a 4.76 percent growth in revenues during the same quarter, after achieving sales worth more than SAR 26.18 billion ($7 billion), compared to SAR 24.99 billion ($6.66 billion) in the same quarter of 2023.

The growth in the revenues and net profitability is the result of several factors, including the increase in sales volume and revenues, especially in the business sector and fifth generation services, as well as the decrease in operating expenses and the focus on improving operational efficiency, controlling costs, and moving towards investment in infrastructure.

The sector comprises four companies, three of which conclude their fiscal year in December: Saudi Telecom Company (STC), Mobily, and Zain Saudi Arabia. The fiscal year of Etihad Atheeb Telecommunications Company (GO) ends on March 31.

According to its financial results announced on Tadawul, Etihad Etisalat Company (Mobily) achieved a 33 percent growth rate of profits, bringing its profits to SAR 661 million by the end of the second quarter of 2024, compared to SAR 497 million during the same period in 2023. The company also achieved a 4.59 percent growth in revenues to reach SAR 4.47 billion, compared to SAR 4.27 billion in the same quarter of last year.

The Saudi Telecom Company achieved the highest net profits among the sector’s companies, at about SAR 3.304 billion in the second quarter of 2024, compared to SAR 3.008 billion in the same quarter of 2023. The company registered a growth of 4.52 percent in revenues.

On the other hand, the revenues of the Saudi Mobile Telecommunications Company (Zain Saudi Arabia) increased by about 6.69 percent, as it recorded SAR 2.55 billion during the second quarter of 2024, compared to SAR 2.39 billion in the same period last year.

Commenting on the quarterly results of the sector’s companies, and the varying net profits, the head of asset management at Rassanah Capital, Thamer Al-Saeed, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Saudi Telecom Company remains the sector leader in terms of customer base expansion.

He also noted the continued efforts of Mobily and Zain to offer many diverse products and other services.

Financial advisor at the Arab Trader Mohammed Al-Maymouni said the financial results of telecom sector companies have maintained a steady growth, up to 12 percent, adding that Mobily witnessed strong progress compared to the rest of the companies, despite the great competition which affected its revenues.

He added that Zain was moving at a good pace and its revenues have improved during the second quarter of 2024. However, its profits were affected by an increase in the financing cost by SAR 26.5 million riyals and a rise in interest, while net income declined significantly compared to the previous year, during which the company made exceptional returns.