Saudia Group, the parent company of Saudi Arabia’s national carrier Saudia and low-cost carrier flyadeal, announced a firm order for 105 A320neo family aircraft from Airbus. The order includes 12 A320neo and 93 A321neo aircraft, bringing Saudia Group’s total Airbus A320neo family aircraft backlog to 144.
This significant deal is expected to contribute to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 plan, a strategic framework to diversify the country’s economy and boost tourism.
“Saudia has ambitious operational objectives to meet growing demand.,” said H.E. Engr. Ibrahim Al-Omar, Director General of Saudia Group, in a news release. “We are increasing flights and seat capacity across our existing 100+ destinations on four continents, with plans for further expansion.”
The order comes as Saudi Arabia aims to become a major tourism destination. The country’s National Tourism Strategy targets attracting over 150 million tourists by 2030. This Airbus deal is seen as a key step towards achieving that goal.
The A320neo family continues to be a popular choice for airlines worldwide, known for its fuel efficiency and increased passenger comfort. Airbus highlighted the aircraft’s compatibility with Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), a key element in reducing the aviation industry’s environmental impact.
