Saudia Flight 41 makes aviation history
Wednesday 2, April 2014
The City of Angels has officially become the only direct flight from Saudi Arabia to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) when the country's flag carrier, Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) Flight SV 41 touched down at Tom Bradley International Airport
A Saudi delegation ushered today's inaugural flight, which was headed by Saudia's Chief Executive Officer and Director General Designate, Mr. Abdulaziz Alhazmi. The group was greeted at Gate 134 of the newly-renovated Tom Bradley Terminal by Saudi Consul General in Los Angeles, Dr. Faisal Al-Sudairy, Saudia's Vice President Passenger Sales, Khalid Albalawi, and General Manager of Passenger Sales & Services North & South America, Abdullah Alhuwaivi, Los Angeles Airport Deputy Executive Director Samson Mengistu, managers and staff of Los Angeles World Airports, US Customs & Border Protection, TSA, other airlines and Saudia local and regional staff.
Sticking to its simple and practical approach to inaugural flights, Saudia kept today's event brief and skipped the usual speeches to just one which, was delivered by Saudia CEO and Director General, Mr. Alhazmi. In his speech, he reaffirmed Saudia’s intention to further expand its presence in the American market with LAX being the third US destination and the fourth in North America.
SV Flight 41, which flew direct from Riyadh with a stop in Jeddah arrived at LAX 10 minutes ahead of schedule making its landing an historic one - the very first nonstop scheduled flight between Saudi Arabia and the Western USA.
A total of 247 passengers – 22 in First Class, 27 in Business Class and 198 in Guest Class. The outbound flight SV 42 had total boarded passengers of 258 – 21 in First Class, 32 in Business Class and 205 in Guest Class, were on board Saudia's history-making flight.
Mr. Alhazmi and the Saudia executives also visited the SkyTeam Lounge, and the Saudia Station Office at the Tom Bradley International Terminal.
For its maiden voyage from Saudi Arabia to Los Angeles, Saudia used its new Boeing 777-300ER. Saudi Arabia's flag carrier said it will operate three flights weekly between Saudi Arabia and Los Angeles - Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The flight originates from the capital city Riyadh, stopping over in Jeddah before flying nonstop to Los Angeles.
The airline said an "evening reception has also been scheduled to commemorate this historic occasion at the SLS Hotel Beverly Hills on Wednesday, April 2, 2014 to be attended by company executives, travel agency owners, members of the diplomatic community, US government officials, partner airlines, Saudia staff and other partners and supporters."
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