Saudia Cargo is expanding its cooperation with the Saudi Ports Authority and the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority to develop new sea-air routes aimed at maintaining cargo flows through Saudi Arabia during a period of regional disruption.
The initiative focuses on creating a sea-air corridor originating from ports on the kingdom’s western coast. Maritime cargo arriving there can then be moved inland and transferred onto air services, reducing total transit times and supporting onward delivery to global markets.
Saudia Cargo said the project is a direct response to changing shipping patterns and disruptions affecting international flight schedules. The goal is to safeguard supply chain continuity by giving cargo more flexible routing options.
A key feature of the model is the use of a single customs declaration covering movement through both maritime and air gateways. Combined with pre-clearance capabilities and smart inspection controls, that should allow freight to move from seaport berth to airport runway far more quickly than under traditional procedures.
The carrier said the new corridor supports a more integrated national logistics model in which seaports and airports operate as connected gateways rather than isolated infrastructures. The first routes are already active, with cargo moving inland from Jeddah Islamic Port.
The move comes after a difficult year for the airline’s cargo division. Saudia Cargo handled 573,000 tonnes in 2025, down 0.8% year on year across around 4,000 flights. Still, the carrier said a range of strategic partnerships signed last year helped strengthen its domestic and international market position.
