RIYADH: Spending on airlines in Saudi Arabia rose for a second consecutive week in the week ending Nov. 7, as operations resumed at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh following Houthi attacks on the facility, official data showed.
Point-of-sale transactions in the airline sector totaled SR33.83 million ($9.02 million), up 8.5 percent from the previous week, according to the Saudi Central Bank.
That followed an 11.2 percent increase in the week ending Oct. 31, lifting spending about 20.7 percent above the level of two weeks earlier. The number of airline transactions rose 4.7 percent to 179,000.
Overall, the Kingdom’s POS transactions totaled SR15.03 billion during the monitored week, down 2.5 percent from the previous seven-day period, while the number of transactions was essentially flat at 264.85 million.
Speaking to Arab News, economist Talat Hafiz said the two-week rise in airline spending is an encouraging sign of resilient travel demand.
He added: “I believe it also reflects the Kingdom’s swift response in addressing the damage caused by the Houthi terrorist attack and restoring airport operations.
“The resumption of operations at King Khalid International Airport reinforces confidence in Saudi Arabia’s security, stability and ability to respond effectively.”
The POS figures suggest that people continue to prioritize travel, both within the Kingdom and abroad, Hafiz noted.
