Saudia Group orders 10 A330neos for flyadeal

Saudia Group has disclosed an order with Airbus for 10 A330-900 aircraft for its subsidiary flyadeal. It marks the first widebody order for the subsidiary and paves the way for new long-haul services and enhanced passenger experience, while advancing the airline’s goal of operating the youngest fleet among the Middle East’s low-cost airlines. The agreement was announced at a signing ceremony held at Airbus’ facilities in Toulouse in the presence of His Excellency Engr. Ibrahim Al-Omar, Director General of Saudia Group, Christian Scherer, CEO Commercial Aircraft at Airbus, Saleh Eid, Vice President of Fleet Management and Agreements at Saudia Group and Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, EVP Sales Commercial Aircraft at Airbus. H.E. Engr. Ibrahim Al-Omar stated: “This deal marks a pivotal milestone in our ambitious strategy to modernise and expand our fleet. It builds on last year’s historic deal with Airbus for 105 aircraft. This step aligns with our national strategies under Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to connect 250 destinations and facilitate the travel of over 330 million travelers and 150 million tourists by 2030”. Benoît de Saint-Exupéry said: “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, new generation efficiency, and excellent passenger experience will perfectly support Saudia Group’s strategic growth and solidify their position as a global aviation leader. We look forward to seeing the versatile champion fly in flyadeal colours.” Saudia Group ordered 105 Airbus aircraft, including 54 A321neo aircraft for flyadeal in May 2024. Currently, flyadeal operates a fleet of 37 A320 Family aircraft and Saudia a fleet of 93 A320 Family and A330 aircraft. Powered by the latest generation Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines, the A330-900 is capable of flying 7,200 nm / 13,300 km non-stop. The A330neo features the award-winning Airspace cabin, which offers passengers a unique experience, high level of comfort, ambience, and design. This includes more individual space, enlarged overhead bins, a new lighting system and access to the latest in-flight entertainment and connectivity systems. At the end of March 2025, the A330 Family had won over 1,800 firm orders from more than 130 customers worldwide. As with all Airbus aircraft, the A330 family is already able to operate with up to 50% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and is targeting up to 100% SAF capability by 2030. Saudi aviation achieves record Q1 2025 passenger numbers The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has announced record-breaking passenger growth for the first quarter of 2025, along with surging numbers of airlines and ground handling companies entering the Saudi aviation market. The announcements were made during the 16th Aviation Sector Steering Committee in Jeddah. Passenger numbers were up 8% to 34.9 million between January and March, marking a significant increase given the month of Ramadan fell during the quarter. Twenty-one airlines entered the Saudi market over the past year, including China Eastern, Virgin Atlantic, Italia Trasporto Aereo (ITA Airways), Eurowings and Air China. More than twenty new routes were established to destinations such as Rome, Hong Kong, and Beijing. The Committee meeting also featured GACA’s award of a ground handling license to Swissport, expanding the company’s ground handling operations from Riyadh and Jeddah to include Taif, Hail, Sakaka, Yanbu, Tabuk, Abha and Jazan regional airports. The 16th Steering Committee meeting, sponsored by Jedco, brought together sector leaders to review progress and updates on the Saudi Aviation Strategy’s implementation, particularly in connectivity and aviation projects, and to review the successes of Q1 2025 and planning for the upcoming Hajj season. For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Matt Driskill at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Head of Sales Kay Rolland at [email protected]