Saudia Cargo, the leading national air cargo carrier in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, yesterday (July 25) officially launched its new scheduled route connecting capital Riyadh to Melbourne city in Australia.
This new route marks a major milestone in the company’s strategic expansion, establishing a direct air bridge between the kingdom and the Australian market, said a statement from Saudia Cargo.
The Saudi carrier will be using a Boeing 747-400 freighter on this route as it provides cargo capacities exceeding 100 tonnes, in addition to nose-loading capabilities to accommodate heavy, oversized, and high-volume shipments.
The launch of the Melbourne route comes in response to market demands, enhancing global supply chains and expanding the reach of Saudi exports to Australia, said the statement.
This announcement also reflects the co-operation between the national logistics carrier, Saudia Cargo, the General Authority for Foreign Trade (GAFT), and the Saudi Export Development Authority (Saudi Exports).
The company continues to work closely with its partners to open promising horizons and new investment opportunities, in line with the Kingdom's commercial aspirations, it stated.
“The Melbourne route is set to contribute to boosting the mutual flow of goods and shipments between the Middle East and Australia. This new line will cater to diverse cargo requirements in both directions, including perishables, pharmaceuticals, industrial equipment, and e-commerce goods,” said a company spokesman.
“To maximise the commercial impact of this logistics corridor, Saudia Cargo is working to elevate co-ordination with the Saudi-Australian Business Council to reach local logistics partners and provide faster and more efficient transit times, thereby strengthening bilateral trade ties and offering swifter, more flexible transport options,” he stated.
He pointed out that the company had recorded a strong performance last year, successfully transporting more than 570,000 tonnes of cargo across its extensive global destination network.
The announcement of new routes comes alongside a series of practical steps to enhance the capabilities of the company’s fleet, including the recent announcement of a purchase agreement for four Boeing 777-200 freighters, which will strengthen the operational capacity of its dedicated fleet and support its growing presence across global markets.-TradeArabia News Service