Saudia Group signs deal with Airbus to bolster its fleet with 20 wide-body aircrafts

Saudia Group has signed a deal with aircraft manufacturer Airbus to bolster its fleet with 20 new wide-body A330neo aircraft, 10 of which have been confirmed for the group’s low-cost airline arm, Flyadeal. This model boasts superior efficiency, long range, and flexibility, in line with its strategy to expand its operations and add more destinations. The deal was signed at the Airbus factory in Toulouse, France, in the presence of Eng. Ibrahim bin Abdulrahman Al-Omar, General Manager of the Saudia Group, and Mr. Christian Scherer, CEO of Airbus Commercial Aircraft. It was signed by Saleh Eid, Assistant General Manager of Fleet Management at the Saudia Group, and Benoit de Saint-Exupéry, Executive Vice President of Commercial Aircraft Sales at Airbus. It also included the confirmed arrival dates for the aircraft, with the first scheduled to arrive in 2027 and the last in 2029.

Eng. Ibrahim Al-Omar highlighted the importance of the deal, which is a continuation of an ambitious plan to modernize and develop the fleet. Last year, the Saudia Group concluded a deal with Airbus for a total of 105 aircraft. He pointed out that this will enable the various national strategies under Saudi Vision 2030, with the goal of reaching 250 destinations and transporting 330 million passengers and 150 million tourists. He added that the deal is based on a feasibility study of operational requirements and contributes to achieving the ambitious goals of the Saudia Group and its fleet modernization and development program, which is a pillar of the new strategy aimed at continuing excellence in operational efficiency through network and fleet management and the integration of maintenance systems.

For his part, Benoit de Saint-Exupéry, Executive Vice President of Sales, Commercial Aircraft at Airbus, said: “The Saudia Group’s order of A330neo aircraft for flyadeal represents a fundamental step in supporting the Kingdom’s aviation ambitions by opening new markets for long-haul flights and attracting new customer segments. The efficiency of the new-generation A330neo, its proven flexibility, and the outstanding passenger experience it offers make it the ideal choice to support the Saudia Group’s strategic growth and consolidate its position as a global leader in the aviation sector. We look forward to seeing this multi-role aircraft fly in the colors of flyadeal.” The Saudia Group’s fleet currently stands at 194 aircraft, all of which serve the commercial and economy aviation, cargo, and logistics sectors. It is planned to receive 191 more new aircraft in the coming years. The efforts of all its subsidiaries, as an integrated aviation system, are contributing to the development of the aviation sector, strengthening and developing the national economy, and enabling various national strategies and major events to bring the world to the Kingdom.