Saudia Cargo is working hard to support the kingdom’s aspirations to become a global transit hub for air freight as it expanded its partnership with cargo.one to bring more of the carrier’s capacity on the digital marketplace.

It has been more than a year and half since the two companies first worked together, in which cargo.one delivered Saudia Cargo’s first external digital sales channel. Since that time the digital marketplace has helped the airline grow in new markets and customer segments with over thousands of shipments booked on dedicated freighter and passenger flights. Over 50 percent of bookings were bound for destinations outside Saudi Arabia.

The move comes as Saudi Arabia’s air cargo sector is on the expansion track to offer more than 4.5 million tonnes per year by the end of the decade.

Saudia Cargo will continue to add new capacity to cargo.one from additional countries to new products and destinations. The airline’s teams will continue working with cargo.one to develop and apply digital best practices to ‘enhance customer experiences and maximize operational efficiencies.’

Saudia Cargo’s chief, Teddy Zebitz, said the airline expects cargo.one to continue delivering a ‘valuable’ proportion of its online sales as more customers adopt digital air freight booking.

“cargo.one has been a valuable partner in helping Saudia Cargo to advance and accelerate in a manner that focuses on customer needs… It makes every sense to work with the biggest marketplace partner, building upon existing successes, remaining dynamic to evolving market needs and generating new revenues wherever possible.”

For cargo.one, freight forwarders using its platform are the biggest winners, as they will be able to book even more Saudia Cargo capacity options seamlessly.