Saudia selects TAQNIA Space for broadband

Services will start by mid 2017

Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) has signed with TAQNIA Space Company to provide its fleet with broadband Internet access, voice calling and live TV.

The broadband service will be the first of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and will cover all Saudia flights, both long-haul and domestic.

Implementation of the new inflight connectivity services will start by mid 2017.

Saleh Bin Nasser AlJasser, director general of Saudi Arabian Airlines:

“New partnership with TAQNIA Space comes as part of the transformation programme initiatives (2020) which is being implemented in Saudi Arabian Airlines and all its companies arising from privatisation, which include the modernization and development of the fleet and provide the latest inflight connectivity and entertainment services that meets Saudia passengers’ expectations.”

TAQNIA Space, like its parent company Saudi Technology Development and Investment Company, is owned by Saudi Public Investment Fund. Its technology partner is Saudi’s King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology.

The company plans to develop similar projects and partnerships with other regional and international airlines in the near future.

About Saudia

Saudia, also known as Saudi Arabian Airlines, is the flag carrier airline of Saudi Arabia, based in Jeddah. The airline’s main base is at Jeddah-King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED).

Routes: Saudia has a global network and currently operates to more than 80 airports wordlwide. It includes destinations in the Middle East, Turkey, Iran, India and Pakistan,  North African countries. It also flies to  an increasing number of airports in Europe and North America.

Read more about Saudi’s route network.

Fleet: Saudi has one hundred and nineteen (126) aircraft, comprising:

  • 35 Airbus A320-200
  • 15 Airbus A321
  • 16 Airbus A330-300
  • 22 Boeing B777-268L
  • 25 Boeing B777-300ER
  • 4 Boeing 787-9
  • 9 Embraer 170

Read more about Saudia’s fleet.

Passenger numbers: About 28 million a year.

Alliance: SkyTeam

N.B. Image credit: Boeing

Internet links

Saudi Arabian Airlines (SV)

Taqnia