The Saudia Group, encompassing both the national carrier Saudia and its budget-friendly counterpart flyadeal, has confirmed a substantial procurement of 105 additional aircraft from the A320neo Family, produced by Airbus. This acquisition includes 12 A320neo and 93 A321neo planes, which brings the total number of Airbus aircraft on order for the Saudia Group to 144 from the A320neo series.
The announcement was made at the Future Aviation Forum held in Riyadh and was attended by dignitaries such as H.E. Saleh bin Nasser AIJasser, the Minister of Transport and Logistic Services for Saudi Arabia, H.E. Engr. Ibrahim Al-Omar, the Director General of Saudia Group, and Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, who serves as the Executive Vice President of Sales for Airbus’ Commercial Aircraft division.
H.E. Engr. Ibrahim Al-Omar, at the helm of Saudia Group, outlined the carrier’s strategic goals, which include an upsurge in flights and seating availability across their extensive network that spans over 100 destinations across four continents. He cited the momentum of Saudi Vision 2030, which is drawing an increasing number of visitors, tourists, entrepreneurs, and pilgrims, as a catalyst for the significant investment. This move is poised to bolster job creation, enhance local content, and provide a tangible uplift to Saudi Arabia’s economy.
Benoît de Saint-Exupéry reiterated the importance of the A320neo family aircraft in supporting Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, highlighting the benefits it brings to Saudia Group’s airlines in terms of efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and the highest standard of passenger comfort, in addition to reduced fuel consumption and emissions.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is on a path to transform the global aviation landscape, as articulated in the Saudi National Tourism Strategy, which aims to attract over 150 million tourists by the year 2030. The partnership with Airbus is expected to be a cornerstone in the Kingdom’s strategy to become a leading global tourism hub.
The A320 Family enjoys widespread popularity as the most sought-after single-aisle aircraft worldwide, boasting over 18,000 orders from more than 300 customers globally. The A321neo, known for its exceptional range and performance, is the largest variant within the A320neo Family. Equipped with the latest engines and Sharklets, the A321neo achieves a 50% noise reduction and ensures at least a 20% improvement in fuel efficiency and carbon emissions when compared to previous models of similar single-aisle aircraft. Additionally, it offers the most spacious cabin in its class. All Airbus A320 Family aircraft are currently compatible with up to 50% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), and the company has set a target for its entire fleet to be capable of operating on up to 100% SAF by the year 2030.