3/14/1947: Saudia Takes to the Skies with a Douglas DC-3

DALLAS — Today, in 1947, Saudia (SV), aka Saudi Arabian Airlines, as it was then known, commenced scheduled operations.

Saudi Arabian Airlines' first Douglas DC-3 aircraft arrived in April 1945. It had been a gift from US President Franklin D. Roosevelt to King Abdul Aziz ibn Saud after their historic meeting in the Suez Canal. 

Former World War II pilot Captain Joe Grant flew the aircraft to Saudi Arabia. Grant would remain in the country and work as the pilot of the Saudi royal family.

Operations Begin

The Saudi Ministry of Defense established Saudi Arabian Airlines as an operating agency in September 1946. By the end of the year, four additional DC-3s had been purchased.

From its new base, Al-Kandara Airport, Haj pilgrim flights were operated to Jeddah from Lydda, Palestine, and other countries. The airline also applied to operate charter flights to London. SV launched scheduled services to Riyadh, Hofuf, Dhahran, and Jeddah. 

International services soon followed to Cairo, Damascus, and Beirut. However, domestic expansion was initially slow due to the country's lack of suitable airfields. 

Additional DC-3s were sourced, bringing the total number in the fleet to 15. These were supplemented by five Bristol 170s, allowing the airline to carry passengers and cargo. 

A Global Airline

Saudi Arabian Airlines became the largest airline in the Middle East during the 1970s and 80s. On May 29, 2012, the carrier returned from Saudi Arabian Airlines to its English name, "Saudia."

Today, SV is the Middle East's third-largest airline, behind Emirates (EK) and Qatar Airways (QR). It operates a varied fleet of Airbus and Boeing airliners to over 80 destinations worldwide.

Saudia will soon be joined by Riyadh Air (RX). The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed Bin Salman, announced that the latest venture was "a catalyst for the Saudi National Transport and Logistics Strategy...Increasing air transport options, raising cargo capacity, and growing international passenger traffic."

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