SaudiGulf Airlines

SaudiGulf Airlines (Arabic: السعودية الخليجية) was a carrier located in Dammam. It was owned by the Al Qahtani Group and became the country's third International carrier, after Saudia and Flynas.

SaudiGulf Airlines
السعودية الخليجية
IATAICAOCallsign
6S[1]SGQ[1]SAUDIGULF
Founded2013
Commenced operations29 October 2016
Ceased operations2020
HubsKing Fahd International Airport (Dammam)
Fleet size4
Destinations11
Parent companyAbdel Hadi Abdullah Al-Qahtani & Sons Group of Companies
HeadquartersDammam, Saudi Arabia
Key peopleTariq Abdul-Hadi Al-Qahtani (Chairman)
Websitewww.saudigulfairlines.com

History

SaudiGulf Airlines was established in 2013 by Abdel Hadi Abdullah Al-Qahtani & Sons Group of Companies, a Saudi consortium of privately owned businesses.[2][3] The airline was planning to start operation in 2015 but encountered regulatory delays with Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation. The airline received its air operator's certificate on 22 June 2016.[4] It launched operations on 29 October 2016 with twice daily flights between Dammam and Riyadh.[5]

On 28 March 2019 SaudiGulf announced the cancellation of its 16 A220-300 orders. This came after an order for 10 A320neos, which SaudiGulf stated would be a better fit for the airline. The first Airbus A320neo was built, registered as VP-CGE, but not delivered as airline operations were suspended due to COVID-19 on 3 June 2020 and the company filed for bankruptcy afterward.[6] Its service was regarded as one of the best in kingdom before its bankruptcy and many clients were saddened at the cessation of its operations.

Destinations

SaudiGulf Airlines flew to the following destinations as of October 2018:[7]

CountryCityAirportNotesRefs
 EgyptCairoCairo International Airport
 IraqBaghdadBaghdad International Airport
ErbilErbil International Airport
 JordanAmmanQueen Alia International Airport
 PakistanIslamabadIslamabad International Airport
KarachiJinnah International Airport
LahoreAllama Iqbal International Airport
SialkotSialkot International Airport
 Saudi ArabiaAbhaAbha Regional Airport
DammamKing Fahd International AirportHub[8]
JeddahKing Abdulaziz International Airport[8]
MedinaPrince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport[8]
RiyadhKing Khalid International Airport[8]
 United Arab EmiratesDubaiDubai International Airport

Fleet

A SaudiGulf Airlines Airbus A320-200 approaching Toulouse–Blagnac Airport during a test flight in 2015.

SaudiGulf Airlines operated the following aircraft at the time of its demise:[9]

SaudiGulf Airlines fleet
AircraftIn ServiceOrdersPassengersNotes
CYTotal
Airbus A320-200416120136
Airbus A320neo10TBA
Total410

See also

References

Media related to SaudiGulf Airlines at Wikimedia Commons