Airline profile · Middle East

Saudia

Saudi ArabiaFull-service carrierSkyTeam memberSince 1945

SVIATA code
SVAICAO code

Saudia is the national flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, a full-service airline founded in 1945 and headquartered in Jeddah. It reported a fleet of 149 aircraft and about 100 destinations on four continents in October 2025, including every domestic airport in the Kingdom. Saudia has been a SkyTeam member since 2012, the alliance's first Middle Eastern airline.

Founded
1945
Headquarters
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Country
Saudi Arabia
Main hubs
King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED), Jeddah · King Khalid International Airport (RUH), Riyadh · King Fahd International Airport (DMM), Dammam
Airline type
Full-service carrier
Alliance
SkyTeam
Parent
Saudia Group
Ownership
State-owned national flag carrier of Saudi Arabia (listed as public-sector owned in the AACO member directory).
Callsign
SAUDIA
Website
saudia.com

How travel agents book Saudia

GDS distribution

Saudia content is sold through Amadeus, Sabre and Travelport. Saudia uses the Amadeus Altéa passenger service system, and Travelport renewed its multi-year distribution agreement with Saudia in March 2023, giving agencies real-time access through Travelport+.

NDC

Saudia extended its Amadeus agreement in December 2024 to deploy NDC content globally from the first quarter of 2025, using Altéa NDC. Sabre began offering Saudia NDC content in January 2025, which was the first time it appeared in a GDS, and Travelport added Saudia NDC content to Travelport+ in October 2025.

Direct channels

Saudia has added NDC connectivity for individual travel sellers, such as its expanded partnership with Almosafer announced in September 2026; Almosafer noted that Saudia content stays available through existing distribution systems.

Notes for travel agents

Hajj visa holders cannot book or issue Saudia tickets online and must use a Saudia office or a travel agency certified by the Saudi Hajj ministry, according to Saudia's website.

On ReservationHub

ReservationHub gives agencies GDS content from Amadeus, Sabre and Travelport plus NDC and low-cost channels in one platform. See the full list on our integrations page.

History of Saudia

Saudi Arabian Airlines was founded in 1945 and is one of the oldest airlines in the Middle East. It joined the Arab Air Carriers Organization in 1965, and its network includes Jeddah and Madinah, the main air gateways for Hajj and Umrah pilgrims.

In the early 2010s the airline was midway through a four-year turnaround programme, due to finish in 2013, that included a rebrand and a return to its earlier name, Saudia. On 29 May 2012 it joined SkyTeam at a ceremony in Jeddah, becoming the alliance's 16th member and the first from the Middle East. At that time it brought 51 destinations to the alliance, 23 of them inside Saudi Arabia.

In April 2016 Saudia announced flyadeal, a low-cost subsidiary run separately from the main airline. In March 2023 it agreed to buy 39 Boeing 787-9 and 787-10 Dreamliners with options for 10 more, to grow its long-haul fleet in support of Saudi Arabia's tourism targets.

Saudia has also moved quickly on airline retailing. It extended its Amadeus agreement to cover NDC content in December 2024 and, in July 2025, began converting traditional bookings and tickets into single Order records with Amadeus Nevio.

Milestones

  1. 1945Saudi Arabian Airlines is founded.
  2. 2012Joins SkyTeam on 29 May as the alliance's first Middle Eastern member.
  3. 2016Announces low-cost subsidiary flyadeal.
  4. 2023Orders 39 Boeing 787 Dreamliners with options for 10 more; renews Travelport distribution agreement.
  5. 2024Extends Amadeus agreement to include NDC content.
  6. 2025Sabre offers Saudia NDC content; Saudia moves to Orders with Amadeus Nevio; Travelport adds NDC.
  7. 2026Expands its Almosafer partnership with NDC connectivity.

Fleet

Boeing 777-300ER Boeing 787-9 Boeing 787-10

Aircraft types in service as of 2025

Saudia reported 149 aircraft in October 2025. Its long-haul fleet includes Boeing 777-300ER, 787-9 and 787-10 aircraft, and Boeing said in 2023 that Saudia operated more than 50 Boeing aircraft on long-haul routes. The March 2023 order for up to 49 787-9 and 787-10 Dreamliners will expand that fleet.

Network and hubs

Saudia's main base is King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, with major operations in Riyadh and Dammam. In October 2025 it described a network of about 100 destinations across four continents, including all of Saudi Arabia's domestic airports.

The airline plays a central role in religious travel, serving Jeddah and Madinah for Hajj and Umrah, and it connects with SkyTeam partners for onward travel. Agencies selling pilgrimage travel may find the Umrah booking software guide and the Saudi Arabia travel software page useful.

Saudia: frequently asked questions

What are Saudia's IATA and ICAO codes?

Saudia uses the IATA airline code SV on tickets and in booking systems. Its ICAO designator is SVA and its radio callsign is SAUDIA. IATA's code directory lists the operating company as Saudi Arabian Airlines Corp., trading as Saudi Arabian Airlines, registered in Saudi Arabia.

Is Saudia part of SkyTeam?

Yes. Saudia joined SkyTeam on 29 May 2012 at a ceremony in Jeddah, becoming the alliance's 16th member and its first airline from the Middle East. SkyTeam membership lets passengers connect with partners such as Air France, KLM and Delta, with alliance status benefits applied across member airlines.

Does Saudia use NDC?

Yes. Saudia distributes NDC content through all three major GDSs. Amadeus began deploying it from early 2025 under a December 2024 agreement, Sabre made it available in January 2025 as the first GDS to do so, and Travelport added it to Travelport+ in October 2025. Saudia also moved to Orders with Amadeus Nevio in July 2025.

How do travel agents book Saudia?

Most agencies book Saudia through Amadeus, Sabre or Travelport, choosing traditional content or NDC offers where available. Saudia also connects directly with large travel sellers, such as Almosafer. For Hajj travellers, tickets must be issued by a Saudia office or a travel agency certified by the Saudi Hajj ministry.

Where is Saudia based?

Saudia is headquartered in Jeddah, and King Abdulaziz International Airport is its main base. It also runs major operations from King Khalid International in Riyadh and King Fahd International in Dammam, and it serves all domestic airports in Saudi Arabia as well as about 100 destinations overall.

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Sources

  1. Travelport — Saudia renews long-term agreement and adds NDC content to Travelport+ (October 2025)
  2. Travelport — Saudia and Travelport multi-year distribution agreement renewal (March 2023)
  3. Amadeus — Saudia extends distribution agreement with Amadeus to include NDC (December 2024)
  4. Amadeus — Saudia moves to Orders with Amadeus Nevio (July 2025)
  5. Business Travel News — New Distribution Capability 2025 updates (Sabre adds Saudia NDC, January 2025)
  6. Boeing — SAUDIA to grow long-haul fleet with up to 49 787 Dreamliners (March 2023)
  7. KLM News — Saudia joins SkyTeam (May 2012)
  8. AACO — Saudia and Almosafer expand partnership with NDC integration (September 2026)
  9. AACO — Saudia announces launch of flyadeal (April 2016)
  10. Saudia — Official website (Hajj and Umrah travel information)
  11. AACO — Member airlines: Saudia
  12. IATA — Airline and location code search
  13. FAA — JO 7340.2N Contractions (ICAO three-letter designators and telephony)

Profile updated by the ReservationHub team. Airline details change: confirm schedules, fares and policies with the airline before booking. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.