Gulf Air Honors SGS HRH Prince Muqrin honors Prince Fahad bin Abdullah for his achievements Garuda Indonesia plans more rapid expansion in Saudi Arabia
A message from the CEO As part of our ongoing commitment to improve our services, we have launched our new brand identity and you must know that this significant milestone underscores the company s focus to strengthen its core capabilities in ground handling services in order to provide a better service to our customers. The introduction of a new brand identity is timely, and will strengthen the recognition of SGS s position and quality in the local and global market place. Moreover, we are witnessing the opening of the new Prince Muhammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Medina, which is expected to have a capacity to accommodate eight million passengers in the first phase and 12 million in the second phase in 2020. SGS is committed in augmenting the service offerings and expansion of its client portfolio in a step to deliver service quality in-line with their expectations. The fast growing Saudi aviation market offers a big potential, and we are very proud of Prince Muhammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport s expansion. Furthermore, we always take serving guests of Allah for granted, it is our duty and our staff always have been forefront to extend all possible support to all customer airlines and the pilgrims, the guest of Allah, during the peaking time of Umrah and Haj movement. In conclusion, I would like to welcome aboard our newly collegues Mr. Rashad Bahwini as the new deputy General Manager and also Eng. Ahmed Al- Rayyis as the new General Manager Ground Services Jeddah Station who will definitely strengthen the executive bench and support the company through its next stages of hyper-growth with their experience and vision. These initiatives herald exciting times for SGS, and I look forward to working with all of you to take SGS to even greater heights! Qaid AL-Otaibi CEO, SGS Gulf Air Honors SGS Gulf Air, the national carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain, recently has presented an appreciation plaque to SGS in recognition of its support and cooperation. The ceremony took place in Jeddah with the attendance of Nasser Al Sayed, Gulf Air s manager of Saudi Arabia Airports and Qaid Al Otaibi, CEO of SGS. It is worth noted that Gulf Air and SGS enjoy collaborative relationship for years where officials of both organizations worked hand-in-hand to achieve the common goal of smooth and efficient operation with high degree of compliance with safety regulation. Gulf Air operates scheduled flights to main stations of Jeddah, Riyadh, Dammam and Madina. Recently, Gulf Air has announced further growth of its network in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with services to two new destinations Gassim and Taif, taking the total number of Saudi Arabian cities served by the airline to 6. 2 6TH ISSUE 2015
Garuda Indonesia plans more rapid expansion in Saudi Arabia GM: Commitment and dedication resulted in being a 5-star airline Fikdanel Thaufik, General Manager Saudi Arabia & Middle East of Garuda Indonesia, said that becoming a 5-star airline is an impressive achievement that not only improves the airline s reputation but also that of Indonesia in the eyes of the world. Speaking to SGS News at his office here in Jeddah about the secret behind this Success, Mr. Thaufik said "Garuda's success in becoming a 5-star airline is the result of continued dedication, commitment and hard work from the top management and all Garuda Indonesia employees to deliver the best possible service to its customers. Again with confidence, he repeated that hard work, determination and consistent performance of the management resulted in Garuda's success. He noted that as part of its business expansion strategies, Garuda had improved its services, convenience and security as well as established alliances with a number of other airlines by joining the SkyTeam. Regarding the status of Garuda here in Saudi Arabia, Mr. Thaukif who played a major role in the development of Garuda Indonesia in Saudi Arabia said Saudi Arabia is an important market for the airline. Despite challenges including intensifying competition, Garuda was able to move forward and gain a big share of the Saudi market and we will continue to strengthen our efforts to tap the Saudi market, focusing on Haj, leisure and business travel. he added. Currently, Garuda operates three flights daily to Jeddah from Jakarta, said Shahid Fareed, Garuda s sales manager for Saudi Arabia. Last April, it started operating three flights weekly from Surabaya to Jeddah. Of course Haj flights are our prime concern but now we are really focusing on leisure travel for Saudis. By going to Indonesia they can see more things and save more money, he said. The number of passengers between Indonesia and Saudi Arabia will grow continuously, because of the presence of the Holy Kaaba and the Two Holy Mosques, Thaufik told SGS News. Population is another potential factor. We have nearly 300 million in Indonesia and 95 percent of them are Muslims. He said. When asked about the volume of tourism traffic between Saudi Arabia and Indonesia, Mr.Thaufik said more efforts are needed to tap the huge potential. According to the latest figures, more than 10 million foreign tourists, including 200,000 Saudis visited Indonesia in 2014. He stressed that the airline hopes to get a good share of the three million-outbound traffic from Saudi Arabia. Fikdanel Thaufik 3 6TH ISSUE 2015
HRH Prince Muqrin honors Prince Fahad bin Abdullah for his achievements In appreciation for his efforts, contribution and for his major role in this sector s growth and development over the past 30 years, the General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA) and Saudi Arabian Airlines honored Prince Fahad Bin Abdullah, former President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation and Chairman of the Board of Saudi Arabian Airlines in presence of HRH Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz, HRH Prince Khalid Al Faisal, Governor of Makkah region, a large number Saudi officials and public figures. In his speech Mr. Sulaiman bin Abdullah Al Hamdan, the newly appointed president of Saudi Arabia s General Authority of Civil Aviation ( GACA) praised Prince Fahad bin Abdullah for his long time achievements which brought the Saudi aviation to the highest level. Al- Hamddan added that Prince Fahad has exerted all his efforts to put strategies and programs to make this industry a success. He announced that the demand for air transport is booming and expected to double by 2030 from 30 million to 60 million flights with number of passengers will go up to 6 billion. Following Al-Hamdan speech, a documentary film revealed the stages of the achievements accomplished since Prince Fahad was appointed as the Director of Operations at the Headquarters of the Royal Saudi Air Force in 1975 and then in 1984 as Assistant Minister of Defense & Aviation for Civil Aviation Affairs. This was followed by the speech of Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, Director General Saudi Arabian Airlines who confirmed that Saudi aviation has achieved growth and development under the leadership of Prince Fahad bin Abdullah. Commenting on the progress of ongoing airport projects, Al-Jasser, said Saudi Arabia s General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA) is working on developing new airports and upgrading existing ones so they can deal with the increasing numbers of passengers. He announced that when all expansion projects are completed, Saudi Arabia airports are expected to have a combined capacity to handle over 100 million travelers. In conclusion, Prince Fahad bin Abdullah thanked HRH Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz, for gracing the event despite his busy schedule. 4 6TH ISSUE 2015
, New head of Saudi Arabia s civil aviation authority appointed Mr. Sulaiman bin Abdullah Al-Hamdan has been appointed new president of Saudi Arabia's General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA), replacing Prince Fahd bin Abdullah as GACA president and Saudia chairman during the past 30 years. Upon his appointment, Al-Hamdan expressed his appreciation and thanks to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, HRH Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and HRH Muhammad bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz Al Saud the deputy crown prince and second deputy prime minister and the minister of interior of Saudi Arabia. Sulaiman Al Hamdan is a well known Saudi executive who has led NAS Holding through many successes in the aviation industry, opening up new horizons for the Group. Al-Hamdan holds a Master degree in Business Administration with concentration on two majors: Management & Organization and Marketing from the University of New Haven, Connecticut, USA. The newly appointed VP operation supports plans to improve operation at SGS As Vice President Operations Support of Saudi Ground Services (SGS), the newly appointed Mr. Suhail Al-Hamad is in overall charge of ramp operation at the Kingdom s busiest airports: Jeddah and Riyadh. SGS News talked to him in his office about his background, present challenges, future plans and other aspects of SGS s operation. Mr. Suhail, who was appointed on the 1st of December, 2014 brings over 25 years of experience in the ground handling industry to the role. He announced that a new plan would be followed to achieve improved passenger service experiences at the airports. In his new role, he also promised to help his staff to achieve their objectives by increasing the efficiency and productivity. In a step to bring SGS operations to the highest level, he said Our aim will always be to maximize the return on investment to enable growth through automation and efficiency, increasing capacity and driving down costs. He pointed out that several new systems such as automation measurement and tracking can be adapted to improve the ground handling operations. Our automated handling systems enable us to handle customer cargo and documentation efficiently as well as reduce handling costs. He said. Mr. Suhail, who was born in Turaif and joined SGS in 1988, announced the two new systems will be implemented in the beginning of 2015 in Jeddah and later in Riyadh. Ground handling automation solutions for airports, airlines, ground handlers and systems integrators, optimizing processes and thereby improving the passenger experience and reducing overheads. He said. 5 6TH ISSUE 2015
SGS announce rollout of new Ground Operations uniform Saudi Ground Services (SGS), has unveiled a new, high quality uniforms which have been created for SGS staff working in both ramp and terminal at all airports in the Kingdom. The new uniforms were commissioned by the board in March 2014 to provide its airport employees working in Guest Services and Ramp with greater comfort which fit for the conditions in which they work, whilst providing a heightened sense of style. Mr. Qaid Al-Otaibi, Chief Executive Officer of SGS commented The new uniform expresses what SGS is all about and staff will not only look good but we are confident that they will be proud to wear it. We want to show our staff we value the role they play in the success of the business and that we are making an investment in them. He added If our staff look good and feel good they are more motivated and happy in their work and that s great for our business and our customer service. He also noted that the new uniforms will be revealed first during the opening of Prince Muhammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah. On the other hand, Mr. Saud Al-Harthy, CEO of Al Aharithy Establishment for Fashion &Tailoring said, I am very excited to be launching our special innovative collection for SGS. After a workplace study, the range was developed to help overcome many of the physical challenges the team faces. Combining fabric technology, yarn construction, balance, shape and feel, each piece is designed with function, comfort and elegance in mind. Laura D ancona, an Italian designer, who designed the new uniforms, said The philosophy of SGS always expresses hospitality, efficiency, care and problem solving for their clients and travelers who crosses the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Therefore, the new Ground Operations uniforms are produced in accordance with all standards and regulatory requirements from aviation authorities to ensure safety and well-being of the wearer. She explained that the exclusive design draws inspiration of the decoration of the Islamic architecture and tradition (Arabesque) made contemporary with degrade (hue of colors) of geometry. The new look of uniforms is a result of a style research that expresses timeless elegance, classic and contemporary altogether. Al Harithy establishment is specialized in aviation uniforms since 1988, when it became the main supplier of Saudi Arabian Airlines, furnishing most of male uniforms, marketing staff, cabin crew, cockpit crew and other departments. 6 6TH ISSUE 2015
Interview with Eng. Ahmed Al-Rayyis the newly appointed General Manager Ground Services Saudi Ground Services (SGS), Saudi Arabia s ground handling provider, has appointed Eng. Ahmed Al-Rayyis as the new General Manager Ground Services Jeddah Station. He assumed his duties effective on March 13th, 2015, bringing more than 15 years of managerial experience from various industries to the role. Joined Saudi Airlines in 1999 and his last position was manager-aircraft structure engineering. As the General Manager of Ground in Jeddah, Al Rayyis is in overall charge of the Kingdom s busiest international airport, SGS News talked to him in Jeddah about present challenges, future plans and other aspects of this complex airport s operation. Immediately after receiving the team of SGS in his office at King Abdulaziz International Airport, Al Rayyis admitted that moving to this new post is going to be a big challenge for him We want it to be recognized as a quality handler and establish a reputation for the highest standards of safety, while delivering a highquality reliable service and value for money for our customers, he said. He added The biggest challenge we face is keeping up with and getting ahead of SGS ambitious growth plans. Speaking about his new position, he furthered said I am glad to be a part of the new and challenging environment of SGS and I will ensure to combine my knowledge, skills and experience to achieve the goals SGS has set,» said Eng. Ahmed Al Rayyis. Although there are an increasing array of challenges facing the ground services I look forward to building on existing relationships and continuing to develop for passengers and customers, he added. As his first priority, he promised that working on the negative sides will be his priority in order to improve services. SGS is moving methodically into a new era of performance-driven and customer-centric culture. It is essential for us to streamline and advance our operations to ensure higher efficiency and quality. In parallel, we focus on the development and training of our human capital aiming at the delivery of reliable and consistent service standards to all our passengers and customers,» he said. He stressed that a real key to any organization s success is its team, Our aim at SGS is to deliver the very best customer service possible, time after time, and to offer a unique modern hospitality that exceeds our customers and passengers expectations. It is imperative that our Human Capital capabilities continue to meet the growing requirements of our business. With that in mind, we are constantly looking at ways of developing and enhancing our offering to existing and new employees to ensure that we have the best employee talent, Al Rayyis concluded. 7 6TH ISSUE 2015
SGS unveils its new identity at GHIC Among 30 companies showing the latest innovations from the ground handling and airport community Saudi Ground Services (SGS), participated at the 16th Annual GHI Conference in Gothenburg that was attended by nearly 700 delegates and where over 2,500 One-to-One meetings were arranged. The Ground Handling International Conference, organized by the Ground Handling International took place from 10th November to the 13th November 2014 at the Gothia Towers in Gothenburg, Sweden. Commenting on their participation, Ahmed M. Jannah, GM Marketing Sales at SGS said Our aim was to demonstrate our range of global flight support services and meeting with clients both present and future. He noted that SGS has gained global recognition for providing ultimate advantages and first-class expertise for airports, airlines, GSE suppliers and service providers with its deep insight into ground handling market and industry trends in the region. He continued The decision to exhibit was taken to position ourselves as the leading ground handling management in this region. It was also an opportunity for us to showcase our corporate products and services to the right audience both in the regional and international travel industry. At the same time, the event offered opportunities for us to develop contacts with the world s leading ground handling providers. According to Mr. Jannah, the event provided an excellent chance for his team to negotiate new contracts with airlines operating to Saudi Airports. He pointed out that SGS has entered a new era as it unveiled its new corporate identity, It was a great opportunity for us to unveil the new corporate identity with distinctive logo and colors for the company. The 16th Annual GHI Conference has addressed important and urgent issues, ranged from the use and development of the IATA Standard Ground Handling Agreement (SGHA), to airlines/airport security, impact of deregulation on ground handling, automation, cost management and airside safety of deregulation on ground handling, automation, cost management and airside safety. Bahwini appointed as Deputy General Manager in Madina Station SGS announced that Rashad S. Bahwini has assumed his duties as the new Deputy General Manager of Ground Services in Madina station. Bahwini joined SGS in 1996 and worked at the Fleet Services Department and then moved to Sales and Marketing Department as a Marketing Specialist. Later in 2008 Mr. Bahwini moved to Madina where he worked in different areas such as operation and planning gaining valuable experience. Mr. Bahwini has thereafter, held various management positions at the Headquarter in Jeddah, before moving back to Madina again. 8 6TH ISSUE 2015