AVIATION-

Saudia Group + Air France-KLM partner up on MRO: Saudia Group has inked a 13-year agreement with Air France-KLM to provide maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services to Saudia Airlines at Paris’ Orly and Charles De Gaulle airports, according to a statement published on Friday. The agreement would see Air France-KLM’s engineering and maintenance arm provide services to 86 GE90 engines powering Saudia Airlines’ Boeing 777 jets, according to the statement. The services will include predictive analytics for engine performance and on-wing and field MRO services aimed at optimizing performance and lowering aircraft out-of-service time.

ICYMI- Saudia Group was reportedly in talks with Airbus and Boeing for a wide-body jet order earlier this month. The number of wide-body jets for Saudia Airlines and Flyadeal is still being decided, with Saudia Group set on placing the order in 2025.

DEBT WATCH-

SIDC logistics unit lined up fresh financing: Emtedad Logistics Services, the logistics arm of the Saudi Industrial Development Company (SIDC), secured a SAR 10 mn shariah-compliant credit facility from the Social Development Bank, the company said in a filing to Tadawul on Thursday. The five-year funding is earmarked for capital expansions.

CARGO-

SAL taps Almajal for cargo services at Al Dammam Station: SAL Saudi Logistics Services has inked an addendum to its sign-off agreement with Saudi facility service provider Almajal Service Master Company according to a Tadwal statement released on Thursday. Under the SAR 9.6 mn contract, Almajal will provide cargo services at SAL’s Al Dammam Station for a year — effective until 31 May 2026 — with an option to extend for two years.

A packed pipeline: SAL announced plans in March to construct, develop, and operate a new logistics zone in Riyadh’s Falcon City at an investment of SAR 4 bn. The firm is also setting up a SAR 12 mn air cargo terminal at Madinah’s Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz International Airport in collaboration with Madinah airport operator Tibah Airports.

About Almajal ServiceMaster Company: The Saudi-based company — a subsidiary of security system provider G4S — operates 21 branches across the Kingdom, reaching over 1.1k customers, according to its website. The firm specializes in airport services, handling over 24k flights and 800k tons of cargo, and provides a wide range of service and maintenance solutions, including upkeep for over 3.5k buildings and 6k ATMs.

SHIPPING + MARITIME-

Incoming cargo yards to Safaga Port: Egypt’s Red Sea Port Authority has tapped Canal Shipping Agencies and Suez Mechanical Stevedoring Company to manage and operate two cargo storage yards in Safaga Port under two 10-year contracts, according to a boursedisclosure(pdf) released on Thursday. The agreement covers the operation of a general cargo and vehicle storage yard and a 5.1 km hazardous materials yard.

Shareholder structure: Red Sea Ports Authority will take up 80% of total revenues, while Canal Shipping Agencies and Suez Mechanical Stevedoring will share the remaining 20%. The agreement includes a minimum of EGP 32.7 mn for management and operations, reduced from the EGP 85 mn stipulated in the original agreement.

Building on past agreements: Canal Shipping Agencies initially signed a partnership agreement in October 2023 with Egypt’s Suez Mechanical Stevedoring Company to operate the two yards for a share of the general revenue.

E-COMMERCE-

JINGDONG debuts services in Saudi Arabia: Beijing-based e-commerce firm JD ’s logistics arm JD Logistics (JINGDONG) has launched its self-operated B2C express delivery services — JoyExpress — in Saudi Arabia, according to a statement released last week. JD Logistics will work on establishing an undisclosed number of warehouses, delivery, transfer stations, and distribution centers to operate JoyExpress locally.

About JoyExpress: JoyExpress offers a wide range of services including domestic and international last-mile delivery, address changes, scheduled deliveries, temporary shipment storage, returns pickup, ins. coverage, cross-border shipping, and customs clearance.

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