JEDDAH: The National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) has criticized the refusal of Saudi Arabian Airlines to offer a particular local daily in its in-flight services.
"The refusal to distribute any particular newspaper is not correct," said NSHR Chairman Mufleh Al-Qahtani. The rights body termed the airline's act as vengeful because the paper had been reporting complaints against the airline. "It is a newspaper's right to defend people's rights," Al-Qahtani told Arab News after a recent meeting to discuss the airline's services.
The name of the daily in question is being withheld to adhere to a common practice of not naming companies in print due to possible legal repercussions.
The NSHR discussed last week the various complaints against the airline in its fourth periodic meeting with focus on the topic titled "Air transport in the Kingdom: the reality and goal." The meeting also suggested solutions to the airline's difficulties. The discussions were held in the absence of any Saudia officials. Al-Qahtani made it clear that the NSHR only wants to help the airline to solve its problems with travelers.
He said the NSHR used to receive two types of complaints about the airline. One was about the poor quality of service to passengers. The other was from the airline's employees. He said complaints from employees increased after the company's move toward privatization began.
The NSHR also received complaints from many Saudi pilots that Saudia has not hired them. He said the airline should function in a fair manner without nepotism.
It was reported in May that more than 700 qualified Saudi pilots launched a Facebook campaign titled "Let Us Fly" to call the airline to hire them. The pilots have flying certificates from international aviation institutes recognized by the General Authority of Civil Aviation, but they have not been hired.
© Arab News 2011
