The Saudi Arabian flag carrier, based in Jeddah, is Saudia, formerly known as Saudi Arabian Airlines. King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah serves as the airline's primary operational base. Secondary hubs are King Fahd International Airport in Dammam and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. Over 100 destinations in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and North America are served by scheduled flights that it operates both domestically and internationally. During the Ramadan and Hajj seasons, charter flights are offered both domestically and internationally. On May 29, 2012, it became the first Persian Gulf airline to join one of the three major airline alliances, SkyTeam. The Arab Air Carriers Organization was founded by Saudi Arabia, which is a member.
The flag carrier's primary base was close to Jeddah at the now-demolished Al-Kandara Airport. A special flight carrying Hajj pilgrims to Jeddah from Lydda (Lod), Palestine (present-day Israel, site of Ben-Gurion International Airport), a British Mandate at the time, was one of the airline's first operations. In March 1947, the airline began operating scheduled services on the Jeddah-Riyadh-Hofuf-Dhahran route with five DC-3 aircraft. The first international flight it operated was from Jeddah to Cairo. In the beginning of 1948, service resumed to Damascus, Karachi, and Beirut. The first of five Bristol 170s arrived the following year. The airline could use these aircraft to transport both passengers and cargo with ease.

After Middle East Airlines and Cyprus Airways flew de Havilland Comets in 1960 and 1961, respectively, and El Al flew Boeing 707s in 1961 and 1962, Saudia became the fourth Middle Eastern airline to fly jets. On February 19, 1963, King Faisal of Saudi Arabia signed the documents establishing Saudia as a fully independent company. Later, the airline bought DC-6s and Boeing 707s, and it joined the Arab Air Carriers Organization (AACO). Sharjah, Tehran, Khartoum, Mumbai, Tripoli, Tunis, Rabat, Geneva, Frankfurt, and London were the first destinations served.