Saudia Group, the state-owned aviation conglomerate of Saudi Arabia, has taken a strategic leap by confirming a firm order for 10 Airbus A330-900neo aircraft for its low-cost subsidiary, flyadeal. This marks flyadeal’s first acquisition of widebody aircraft, paving the way for its entry into long-haul markets—a critical move aligned with the ambitious goals of Saudi Vision 2030.
The announcement was made during a signing ceremony at Airbus headquarters in Toulouse, attended by Ibrahim Al-Omar, Director General of Saudia Group, and Christian Scherer, CEO of Airbus Commercial Aircraft, along with other senior executives from both companies.
For flyadeal, which currently operates an all-A320 Family fleet of 37 aircraft on domestic and regional routes, the addition of the A330neo represents a transformative step. Powered by next-generation Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines and offering a range of up to 13,300 km (7,200 nautical miles), these aircraft will enable the low-cost carrier to launch long-haul services—potentially connecting Saudi Arabia with destinations in Western Europe and Southeast Asia. A key focus is expected to be serving year-round pilgrim traffic (Umrah and Hajj) alongside general tourism.
“This agreement marks a fundamental milestone in our ambitious strategy to modernize and expand our fleet,” said Al-Omar. “It builds on last year’s landmark order with Airbus for 105 aircraft [including 54 A321neos for flyadeal]. This move is aligned with our national strategies under Vision 2030, which aims to connect 250 destinations and serve over 330 million travelers and 150 million tourists by 2030,” he added.
Confidence in the A330neo and Vision 2030
Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, Executive Vice President of Commercial Aircraft Sales at Airbus, stated that Saudia Group’s A330neo order for flyadeal “marks a key step in advancing the Kingdom’s aviation ambition to unlock long-haul markets and attract new customers. The A330neo’s proven versatility, next-generation efficiency, and outstanding passenger experience will perfectly support Saudia Group’s strategic growth and solidify its status as a global aviation leader.”
The A330neo features Airbus’s “Airspace” cabin, offering more personal space, larger overhead bins, ambient lighting, and state-of-the-art entertainment and connectivity systems. The aircraft is already certified to operate with up to 50% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), with a target of full SAF capability by 2030. Industry sources suggest flyadeal may opt for a high-density configuration of around 420–430 seats to maximize route efficiency.
Deliveries of the 10 A330neos are scheduled to begin in 2027 and conclude by 2029. Some sources also indicate the deal includes purchase rights for 10 additional units of the same model.
Comentarios
Para comentar, debés estar registrado
Por favor, iniciá sesión