Saudi national carrier Saudia has announced the opening of its new operations building at King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA) in Jeddah.

Built entirely by Saudi Airlines Real Estate Development Company (Sared) over a 50,000 sq m area, it also boasts an extensive operations control centre, which is the largest centre of its kind in the Middle East and the 12th largest globally.

According to Saudia, the centre coordinates between the group’s business lines, communicates with aircraft via its state-of-the-art facilities to ensure control of its operational plans, and tracks air traffic across all domestic and international airports in real time.

It is a proper mini terminal, complete with artificail intelligence (AI)-powered self-boarding kiosks and five luggage carousels, as well as about 15 meeting rooms for pre-flight cabin crew briefings, stated the national carrier.

The two-storey building can accommodate more than 1,100 employees, it added.

Thanks to its strategic location, near the far side of the airport, it provides both pilots and cabin crew members with easy aircraft access.

The building, which boasts state-of-the-art infrastructure and technology, was inaugurated by Prince Badr bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, the Deputy Governor of Makkah, and Prince Saud bin Abdullah bin Jalawi, Governor of Jeddah.

Throughout the building’s design, construction and deployment stages, Sared had prioritised the incorporation of and compliance with the highest safety and security standards.

The eco-friendly structure adheres to the highest international sustainability standards as well. It also aims to provide an ideal working environment that fosters productivity and innovation amongst its employees.

“We are eager to see the new Saudia Operations building help make our flight services, which span over one-hundred destinations in four continents, more punctual and efficient than ever before,” said Engineer Ibrahim Al Omar, Director General of Saudia Group.

“The new infrastructure is not only equipped with innovative technologies that put us right on the leading edge of the world of aviation, but also easily meets the needs of Saudia and other stakeholders throughout the airport,” he added.

Source: Civil Aviation Authority-Qatar