Saudi low-cost airline Sama looks to double fleet

SKY'S THE LIMIT: Sama which means 'Sky' in Arabic has sixBoeing 737-300s. (Company photo)

Saudi Arabia-based low-cost carrier Sama is looking to double its fleet following the signing of a the partnership deal with Bahrain Air in August, Bahrain's Gulf Daily News reported on Monday.

"We currently have six Boeing 737-300s and one small regional aircraft but we are now looking to increase this by five or six more aircraft," the paper quoted Sama chief executive Andrew Cowen as saying.

Sama currently flies to 23 destinations and has an agreement with Bahrain Air which operates to 13 destinations, including Cochin in southern India.

"The deal means that people can fly with us to Dammam and drive across the causeway then fly on with Bahrain Air to destinations we do not cover. It also means that people flying into Bahrain can cross the causeway and link up with our network from Damman," Cowen added.

"We are both low-cost carriers with like-minded plans to expand our operations," he added.

According to Mark Breen, Sama's chief operating officer, the airline has carried more than 1.25 million passengers in just over a year since it began operations.
 
Sama was founded by Investment Enterprises Ltd, whose chairman is Prince Bandar bin Khalid Al-Faisal, with the support of Mango Aviation Partners, a UK firm specialising in low fare airline start-ups, according to the company's website.

Initial investment came from 30 major Saudi private and institutional investors including Olayan Financial Co, Xenel Industries and Saudi Industrial Services.

Print | Email | Discuss this article |

READERS' COMMENTS

View all comments (0)

Have your say

Click here to post a comment

Add your Comment All posts are sent to the administrator for review and are published only after approval. ArabianBusiness.com reserves the right to remove any comment at any time for any reason. Please keep your responses appropriate and on topic.
Name *
Remember me on this computer
Email *	(Your email address will not be published)
City
Country
Subject *
Comment *
Notify me of further comments
Security Code *
Please click post only once - your comment will not be published immediately.

MORE FROM ARABIANBUSINESS.COM