This was an impressive 26 percent increase over volumes flown in the first half of 2011, while feight-related revenue was up by 25 percent year-on-year.

Saudia Cargo’s expanding freighter fleet played a major role in the big increase in the freight traffic, additional aircraft allowing the cargo carrier to add new routes to Frankfurt, Vienna, Ho Chi Minh City and Dubai.

Freight capacity to Hong Kong, Guangzhoum Lagos, N’djamena and Europe was also increased over the period.

Fahad Hammad, CEO of Saudia Cargo, remarked: “We experienced all-time records in May and June 2012. The main contributors to our growth were exports from Europe, East Africa and the UAE as well as cargo from our network into Saudi Arabia and West Africa.

“We expect the growth spurt to continue in the second half of 2012,” Hammad added.

Away from the growing freighter fleet, bellyhold capacity remained quite static compared to the first January - June period of 2011, but charters are becoming an increasingly vital part of the carrier’s offering.

Cargo charter business is expected to increase yet further later this year with the addition of two dedicated freighters.

Saudia Cargo currently boasts a fleet of 13 freighters. It also offers the bellyhold space available on the Saudia fleet of 145 passenger aircraft on a growing global network of 225 destinations.