Story ID: 723 SPA
SPA Launches Al Bayraq Service in June
By: Peter Shaw-Smith
Caption: SPA could ultimately be privatized
Word Count: 247
Saudia Private Airlines (Stand A12) has entered the well-trodden but challenging Saudi VIP shuttle market with the launch of its Al Bayraq service, starting with Riyadh and Jeddah on June 1.

“Al Bayraq is a passenger charter carrier based at Jeddah. The carrier, a subsidiary of Saudia, operates scheduled services in partnership with Saudia Private Aviation [SPA], as part of Saudia’s transformation program,” the Centre for Aviation reported.

The new operator has a fleet of three A319s operated from the Saudia Private Aviation Terminal at Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport. SPA provides charter, ground handling, management and VIP scheduled services. It has 22 domestic stations through its sister company, SGS, including FBOs at Riyadh, Jeddah, Medinah and Dammam. It also has access to 60 worldwide stations through its partner network.

SPA’s website says the fleet currently includes the Dassault Falcon 7X, Boeing BBJ 737-400, Bombardier Challenger 605, Beechcraft King Air 350 and Hawker 400XP, and is understood to total 10 aircraft. “Saudi Private Aviation has a fleet of Falcon jets and Hawkers for shorter flights,” the company said.

Speaking to AIN at the 2014 MEBAA show, SPA CEO Faisal G. Kayal said that under the umbrella of the Saudi Arabian Airlines holding company, catering, cargo and ground-handling had all been privatized by the government. “SPA is one of those companies that will eventually be privatized. Eventually, down the road, it will contribute to an IPO,” he said at the time.