The purchase is being described as “the largest aircraft deal in the history of Saudi aviation.”
Riyadh:
Saudi Arabia’s Saudia Group will buy 105 Airbus planes, the company said on Monday, hailing it as the biggest aircraft deal in the country’s history.
The Saudi airline will receive 54 A321neo aircraft, while budget subsidiary flyadeal will acquire 12 A320neo planes and 39 A321neo planes, a statement said.
“This historic agreement covers 105 confirmed aircraft and marks a significant moment not only for the Saudi aviation industry, but also for the entire MENA region,” he said.
The purchase, described as “the largest aircraft deal in the history of Saudi aviation”, marks a further investment by Saudi airlines more than a year after the launch of new airline Riyadh Air.
Saudi authorities also announced plans for a major new airport in the capital Riyadh, capable of accommodating 120 million passengers a year.
Before the deal announced on Monday, Saudia had a fleet of 144 aircraft, while flyadeal had 32 aircraft.
Saleh Eid, vice-president of fleet management and agreements, told AFP that deliveries would begin in 2026 and continue until 2032. He declined to disclose the value of the deal.
Jeddah-based Saudia, also known as Saudi Arabian Airlines, dates back to 1945 when it received its first jet, a gift from US President Franklin Roosevelt.
The state-owned carrier is expected to increasingly focus its operations outside Jeddah once Riyadh Air begins its flights, a milestone expected next year.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sees aviation as a key component of his “Vision 2030” reform agenda to remake the oil-centric economy, with the aim of more than tripling annual traffic to 330 million passengers by the end of the year. decade.
Vision 2030 “motivated our decision to secure this significant agreement, which will create jobs, increase local content and contribute to the national economy,” Saudia Group CEO Ibrahim Al-Omar said in the statement.
Last year, Saudia announced a deal to buy 39 Dreamliner planes from Boeing, with options for 10 more.
Riyadh Air, launched in March 2023, announced an agreement to purchase 39 Boeing Dreamliners, with options for a further 33 jets.
Saudi Arabia is also launching NEOM Airlines, based in the planned megacity.
The Saudis are entering a crowded Gulf market.
Dubai, in the neighboring United Arab Emirates, has Emirates, the largest airline in the Middle East, and the busiest airport in the world for international passengers.
Qatar, another Gulf air hub, is expanding capacity at Hamad airport to 70 million people a year and increasing Qatar Airways routes.
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