Cargo flights to continue to operate on humanitarian and commercial basis: Saudia Cargo chief

Saudi Airlines Cargo has taken proactive steps to ensure the continuity of all cargo and supply operations and the arrival of essential goods and products including medical equipment, medicine and foodstuff, said CEO Omar bin Talal Hariri.

The steps come in line with the official decisions, which excluded all cargo operations from suspension imposed on other business activities as part of the precautionary measures the Kingdom has taken to prevent a Covid-19 outbreak.

“We have high-level coordination with all related parties as per the recommended precautionary measures the Saudi health authorities have taken, which permitted the cargo operations and the flow of goods to run uninterrupted,” Hariri explained.

All cargo flights to Europe will continue through Frankfurt and Liège stations in addition to Dhaka station. Work at these stations is run as scheduled in order to mitigate the impact of the imposed suspension aiming to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

The decision suspending passenger flights as a preventive measure has made Saudia Cargo operate a number of additional cargo flights to Dubai and other destinations after all cargo operations on passenger aircraft came to a complete halt.

“The Saudia Cargo staff work around the clock as part of the company’s national responsibility and regional role in enhancing logistics during these circumstances which the whole world is going through,” he said.

Saudia Cargo, he stressed, always acts based on official decisions, instructions and directives so that it can ensure an alignment between meeting the humanitarian needs and protecting the public safety. Cargo flights will continue to operate on humanitarian and commercial basis and cover certain key commercial and safe ports and cargo stations around the world.