PARIS: Khaled Almolhem, Director General of Saudi Airlines, has said that the airline is working to extend its air network in preparation to meet the needs of the new King Abdul Aziz International Airport in Jeddah. Speaking to Okaz/Saudi Gazette during his visit to Paris to supervise the Saudia office, Almolhem said that the aim to make the new airport a “hub linking all corners of the world” would be achieved through alliances with global airline companies and an increase in the airline's capacity. “In the last 14 months we've received 40 new aircraft, and we expect by the end of the year that the number will have reached 50 Airbus 320s, 321s and 330s, and by the beginning of next year we will take possession of some 777s, one of the most advanced aircraft today, and between 2014 and 2015 we will receive 787s,” he said. “That won't be the end of it, as we are continuously studying the modernization of the fleet and increasing its capacity according to volume, and the greater the traffic or our projections for traffic, the more purchases we will made.” As for human resources, Almolhem said the airline was continual looking to recruit qualified staff. “A lot of young people have been recruited as assistant pilots and we are always working to recruit qualified people. And I place the emphasis on the word ‘qualified',” he said. “The pilot is one of the most important tools Saudi Airlines has to ensure the aircraft is piloted with the knowledge of safety and security rules and regulations. Pilots have to be of the very highest professional standards and that requires qualified training staff to conduct training programs and tests, and those who make it through are put into assistant pilot programs. “We also recruit from secondary school leavers and technical institute graduates to train them as assistant pilots, as we have very large growth given our great need for pilots. Saudis have proved their worth over the last 65 years and are regarded as among the best pilots in the world.” Responding to criticisms of the airline, Almolhem said that any change would have its critics and even detractors. “There will always be a few temporary hiccups when changes are brought in, and people will be quick to point these out,” he said. “There will also be those who are opposed to change in the first place.” He noted that a low-cost airline was not currently in the airline's plans, with the company focusing instead on improving the quality of its services, but said that observations from the passengers formed an important part of understanding the needs of clients. Media criticism, he said, was “nothing to be scared of”, adding that all that was required was time. “The airline world needs time. If we want to purchase an aircraft it needs time. If we want to bring in new rules it needs time. And if we want to build an airport it needs time,” he said. “But if the plan and the knowledge are there, and if the consumers and producers are there, then we will get to where we want. Naturally, we have to listen and learn, but if we listened and took fright we would not continue with the necessary improvement the airline is always working towards.”
