SATS, under its subsidairy, SATS Saudi Arabia Company, has signed a five-year partnership with Saudi Arabia's flag carrier, Riyadh Air, to provide cargo handling services at key airports across the country.
The agreement will cover major cargo operations at Riyadh Air's hub at King Khalid International Airport (RUH), as well as other airports including King Fahd International Airport (DMM) in Dammam and King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED) in Jeddah.
As part of the agreement, SATS will develop hub management capabilities for the airline, which in turn supports Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 objective of handling 4.5 million tonnes of air cargo annually.
The cargo handler will provide comprehensive services at Riyadh Air's existing 60,000 square-metre airfreight terminal, featuring facilities such as a specialised zones for pharmaceuticals, e-commerce, live animals, valuables and dangerous goods. The partnership also grants Riyadh Air instant access to SATS’ extensive global network of over 225 stations, supported by over 250 airline partners and leading freight forwarders.
To support these hub operations, SATS will deploy its proprietary COSYS+ Next Generation Cargo Management System, enabling real-time tracking and data-driven decision-making. The system will be enhanced by advanced cargo digitisation technology
and automated truck dock management systems to further increase operational efficiency.
These technological advances will be complemented by the facility’s scalable infrastructure, ensuring robust capacity to support Riyadh Air’s long-term growth ambitions.
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Bob Chi, SATS Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Gateway Services Asia-Pacific says: "This partnership represents strategic alignment between Riyadh Air’s ambition to connect over 100 destinations globally by 2030 and our commitment to provide our customers with world-class air cargo solutions.”
"This partnership with SATS Saudi Arabia marks a pivotal milestone in Riyadh Air’s journey to become a leading global carrier. By leveraging SATS’ advanced cargo handling capabilities and global network, we are laying a strong foundation to build a world-class air cargo offering from day one," adds Adam Boukadida, Riyadh Air Chief Financial Officer (CFO).
Shares in SATS closed one cent lower or 0.31% down at $3.26 on Aug 18.
