KSA ministers must travel on Saudia

A new ruling means Saudi Arabian ministers and top government officials must travel on the kingdom’s national airline carrier or other commercial flights, rather than asking for chartered flights from the royal fleet, it was reported. In 2005, issued Supreme Directives said that only ministers traveling outside Saudi Arabia for official missions of extreme necessity should request the royal fleet aircraft, reported Arabic daily Al-Hayat. In addition, a request affirming the justifications should be made in advance to concerned Saudi authorities, and it should be accompanied by adequate proof that no other flights were available via Saudia or any other airlines. The directive noted that allowing ministers and top government officials to use special airplanes, while commercial flights were available “was against the standing orders to reduce costs and rationalise spending". All government departments have been asked by the supreme authorities to use their own budget while paying for the travel costs of their staff on the national carrier, Saudi Arabian Airlines.