Saudia Cargo has carried out more than 1,500 flights in 100 days — since March this year, when Covid-19 restrictions came into play.

The carrier said that 500 of these flights used passenger aircraft that had been temporarily converted into freighters to meet demand, particularly for personal protective equipment (PPE), during the pandemic.

The remaining flights made use of freighter and bellyhold capacity.

"From March through to June, Saudia Cargo has transported around 75,000 tons of vital shipments to the Kingdom including medical and PPE equipment as part of the Saudi health authorities’ efforts to prevent the spread of Covid-19," the carrier said in a statement.

"We have taken numerous precautionary measures to ensure that cargo and logistics operations continue smoothly and efficiently. We [also] adhere to strict preventive and protection instructions to ensure the safety of our staff."

Saudia Cargo chief executive Omar Hariri pointed out that the company has mobilised its logistics resources, as well as establishing a cargo air bridge, to ensure the smooth delivery of medical shipments to Saudi Arabia.

In addition, the carrier has increased its flight frequencies to and from key destinations in the Middle East, Europe, Africa, Asia and the US.