SATS Saudi unit partners with Riyadh Air for cargo handling services

SATS will handle cargo operations at several airports in Saudi Arabia.

SATS Saudi Arabia Company (SATS SA), a subsidiary of SATS Ltd., has signed a five-year partnership with Riyadh Air, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s new national carrier, to provide comprehensive cargo handling services at several airports across the country.

The agreement includes major cargo operations at the Riyadh Air hub at King Khalid International Airport (RUH), as well as other airports, including King Fahd International Airport (DMM) in Dammam and King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED) in Jeddah.

Under the agreement, SATS SA will provide cargo handling services at the airline’s existing 60,000 square-metre RUH airfreight terminal, featuring state-of-the-art facilities including specialised zones for pharmaceuticals, e-commerce, live animals, valuables, and dangerous goods.

SATS SA will also develop world-class hub management capabilities for the airline, allowing Riyadh to be a premier regional cargo hub. This directly supports Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 objective to handle 4.5 million tons of air cargo annually.

This partnership grants Riyadh Air instant access to SATS’ extensive global network of over 225 stations, supported by over 250 airline partners and leading freight forwarders. The hub management operations will include centralised cargo and security control centres for real-time operational oversight.

To support these operations, SATS SA will deploy SATS’ proprietary COSYS+ Next Generation Cargo Management System, enabling real-time tracking and data-driven decision-making. The system will be enhanced by advanced cargo digitisation technology
and automated truck dock management systems for operational efficiency.