Al-Jasser to employees: Embrace change to take SAUDIA to new heights
20-May-2015 Saudia recently organized a three-day executive workshop at King Abdullah Economic City in Rabigh, in the presence of all its executive leaders including those working with its affiliated companies and strategic units.
During the workshop, Eng. Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, the Director General launched SV2020 flight to take the national flag carrier to new heights of progress and prosperity, with a futuristic vision having international dimensions.
Addressing the executives, Eng. Al-Jasser said SAUDIA would have a total of 200 aircraft by the next five years. He also disclosed plans to increase the airline's domestic flights and expand operations to new international destinations.
Saudia, which celebrates its 70th anniversary this year, plans to double its achievements during the next seven years.
Spelling out future objectives, the director general said: "We'll increase the number of aircraft from 119 to 200 by 2020 and increase the number of passengers by improving services." Saudia transported more than 28 million last year.
Eng. Al-Jasser emphasized the airline's capability to make required changes with the support of its highly qualified executives and other employees.
"We would like to make use the untapped capabilities of our workers," he said while launching its five-year SV2020 strategic plan.
During the workshop titled "SV2020: Together Shaping Our Future," SAUDIA executives discussed 20 major initiatives to transform them into working programs, of which 10 initiatives would be implemented this year. Working teams presented their plans to implement the programs.
The meeting endorsed the airline's strategic plan for the next five years (2015-2020). Prepared by an international consultancy firm, the plan aims at making SAUDIA one of the best airlines in the world that give maximum care to passengers and work for customer satisfaction.
The plan focuses on ensuring the security and safety of passengers and aircraft, providing advanced training to staff, rationalization of expenditures, diversification of revenue and optimum use of human and material resources.
In his keynote speech, Eng. Al-Jasser highlighted the airline's achievements over the past years.
"This is not enough. The world around us is changing abruptly. Even government performance, which is usually slow, has changed and improved," he said while stressing the importance of embracing change for a brighter future.
He urged employees to build on the airline's achievements.
"We have a strong foundation to build on it in order to reach new heights of progress and prosperity," the director general said.
Al-Jasser said he was not demanding something impossible.
"What we need is to manage our objectives, make use of opportunities and work as one team. Change is not easy and we may face some obstacles. But change is essential to achieve our corporate objectives," he said.
The workshop was also attended by executives who presented new initiatives for the airline's progress as well as a team of experts specialized in change and transformation.
"The main objective of this workshop is to take SAUDIA to new heights of progress, adopting a comprehensive strategic plan taking into consideration the airline's present and future requirements as well as new developments in the aviation industry," the DG said.
Eng. Al-Jasser said the organization is now in a better set up for change. "The restructuring is over with the formation of new companies and strategic units that would facilitate management."
He told employees: "We have to rise up to the expectations of customers. We should not postpone today's work for tomorrow. If we cannot do it today, it would be difficult to do it tomorrow. This way we'll miss our opportunities." He said SAUDIA has highly qualified executives who have previously worked for major companies, adding that they are capable of leading the change
Mr. Suleiman Al-Hamdan, President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation and Chairman of SAUDIA's Board of Directors, graced the occasion.
Addressing the gathering, he stressed the need for change for the better. "We have to translate our vision into reality, not only for the purpose of change but to cope with speedy developments in the industry."
It is worth mentioning that Boston Consulting Group prepared the airline's five-year strategic plan after conducting several workshops for executives, holding meetings with different groups of employees and visiting places of work. BCG set out the plan taking into consideration the airline's present status and its future corportation goals.