Saudia Group announces order for 10 Airbus A330neo aircraft for flyadeal subsidiary on April 23, 2025

On April 23, 2025, Saudia Group announced that its low-cost subsidiary flyadeal would acquire 10 Airbus A330-900neo aircraft, marking flyadeal’s first foray into wide-body operations. The agreement also includes purchase rights for a further 10 A330neo aircraft.

The A330-900neo was preferred to Boeing’s 787-9, not least because of its compatibility with flyadeal’s existing fleet of Airbus A320s. This compatibility simplifies the transition for pilots, who only need around ten days of additional training

The new wide-body aircraft are scheduled to enter service in 2027, with completion in 2029. They will feature a small, high-end cabin, while retaining an economical, high-density layout, in line with flyadeal’s low-cost model

Led by H.E. Engr. Ibrahim Al-Omar, Managing Director of Saudia Group, the delegation will include several diplomats, such as Mr. Fahd Al-Ruwaili, Saudi Arabian Ambassador to France, media personalities, Saudia Group executives such as Mr. Saleh Eid, Vice President of Fleet Management and Agreements at Saudia Group, and Mr. Steven Greenway, Managing Director of Flyadeal.

The agreement was signed by Saleh Eid, Vice President of Fleet Management at Saudia Group, and Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, Executive Vice President of Commercial Aircraft Sales at Airbus.

Saudia Group’s Managing Director described the agreement as a “crucial step” in Saudia Group’s strategy to modernize and expand its fleet, in line with the objectives of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 to connect 250 destinations and facilitate the travel of over 330 million passengers and 150 million tourists, and to increase airfreight volume to 4.5 million by 2030.

This order marks flyadeal’s strategic entry into long-haul markets, with a particular focus on Southeast Asian destinations such as Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines.

Following a major purchase in May 2024, when Saudia Group ordered 105 A320neo Family aircraft, including 12 A320neos and 93 A321neos, the Kingdom aims to achieve its ambitious 2030 commercial aviation targets.

This latest acquisition strengthens Saudia’s fleet, placing it among the most modern in the world, and reinforcing its global aeronautical stature.

Today, Saudia airlines operates 159 aircraft, with a further 128 on order, while its low-cost subsidiary flyadeal operates 42 aircraft and has 55 on order. The company aims to operate 100 aircraft by 2030, in line with the Kingdom’s wider aviation objectives. The main base for both companies is Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED), which handles up to 114 million passengers a year.

Saudia Airlines and Riyad Air are both national airlines.

Saudia (Saudia Airlines) is the national airline of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Founded in 1945, it is one of the largest airlines in the Middle East.

Saudia Airlines has invested heavily in modernizing its fleet, which is now one of the newest in the world, with 144 aircraft. It serves a vast global network of almost 100 destinations on four continents, including the 28 airports of the Saudi domestic network.

Riyadh Air is a second Saudi airline based in its capital Riyadh. The airline plans to be the largest in the Middle East in terms of revenue. It will operate scheduled domestic and international flights to over 100 destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and North America. The fleet comprises Airbus A320s, Boeing 737s and Airbus A350s. Riyadh Air is set to become a “world-class airline” and is expected to add $20 billion to non-oil GDP growth and create over 200,000 direct and indirect jobs.

On March 12, 2023, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salmane officially announced the creation of Riyad Air, the country’s newest national airline.

Saudia and Riadh Air, Saudi Arabia’s two national airlines, operate independently while strategically aligning to strengthen the Kingdom’s aviation sector and support Vision 2030’s goal of positioning Saudi Arabia as a global travel and tourism hub.

By serving common destinations, the two airlines can increase flight frequency on the most popular routes, offering travelers greater flexibility, convenience and a seamless travel experience.

Saudia Group prioritizes improving global connectivity, increasing flight frequency and expanding its network, while maintaining its strong track record in terms of punctuality and safety. In this way, Saudia Group contributes to the realization of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 objectives by bringing the world to Saudi Arabia.