Saudia Cargo has expanded its cargo network with the addition of Shanghai to its flight schedules which commenced last August 15.

"The Saudi national air freight carrier’s network expansion was in response to the growing demand for air cargo capacity, according to reports issued since last March," it said in a statement.

Saudia Cargo now operates two flights a week, Saturdays and Tuesdays, originating from Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport and Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport to the new destination using a Boeing 777 Freighter which has a 95-ton capacity.

Using charter flights booked by Saudia Cargo clients, the company has so far transported over two million kilograms of medical and pharmaceutical supplies required for facing the COVID-19 pandemic, in addition to other millions of other life-saving cargoes needed at the height of the coronavirus pandemic.

Saudia Cargo CEO Omar Hariri said the company took proactive and practical steps to ensure the continuity of cargo operation to the Kingdom through non-stop charter flights despite the challenges COVID-19 posed.

The company, he added, operated 29 unscheduled all-cargo flights from Shanghai International Airport to the Kingdom to meet the growing demand for cargo.

“Saudia Cargo’s high-level flexible schedules enabled it to respond swiftly to the increasing demand for cargo during the suspension of flights. We enhanced the charter flight services while our teams conducted an in-depth analysis of markets and order rates, which helped in the decision-making process for the network,” said Hariri.

In July, Saudia Cargo operated over 1,500 flights, of which 500 were done using passenger aircraft dedicated for international cargo operations. This, as part of the company’s efforts to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

Saudia Cargo transported 75,000 tons of life-saving cargo including medicines and medical equipment to the Kingdom from March to June 2020, in support of the Kingdom’s health efforts towards fighting COVID-19.