Saudia Group, comprising Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) and low-cost carrier flyadeal, announced a firm order for 105 additional Airbus A320neo family aircraft on Monday at the Future Aviation Forum in Riyadh.
The order includes 12 A320neo and 93 A321neo jets, increasing Saudia Group’s backlog of A320neo family aircraft to 144. The value of the deal was not disclosed.
“We are increasing flights and seat capacity across our existing 100+ destinations on four continents, with plans for further expansion,” said Ibrahim Al-Omar, director general of Saudia Group. He cited Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 development plan as motivating the order to meet growing aviation demand.
Airbus executive Benoît de Saint-Exupéry said the A320neo planes will enable the Saudia Group’s strategy “to advance the Kingdom’s aviation capabilities while enabling both airlines to benefit from the A320neo Family’s exceptional efficiency” and reduced emissions.
Saudi Arabia aims to attract over 150 million tourists annually by 2030 under its National Tourism Strategy. Monday’s order is expected to support that goal by expanding air transport capacity.
The A320neo family features new engines and wing tips called sharklets, reducing fuel consumption by at least 20% compared to previous models, according to Airbus. The planes are approved to operate on sustainable aviation fuel blends.
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