Saudia signs for 50 Lilium Jets with options for 50 more

Saudia Group and Lilium have signed a binding sales agreement for 50 Lilium Jets, with options for the purchase of 50 more. The signature ceremony was held at Lilium’s HQ in Gauting near Munich, with the contract signed by Fahd Al-Jarbou, CEO of Saudia Private, representing Saudia Group, and Lilium’s CEO Klaus Roewe, in the presence of distinguished guests including the German Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Michael Kindsgrab, director general of Saudia Group HE Engr Ibrahim Al-Omar and Lilium chairman Tom Enders.

This sales agreement, which follows the MoU between Saudia Group and Lilium signed in October 2022, marks the largest of its kind in the MENA region and is the largest reported firm order of eVTOL aircraft by an airline that plans to operate the aircraft. It signals a substantial commitment to electric aviation from a world-leading operator, as well as a clear preference towards the performance, economics and passenger experience expected to be provided by the Lilium Jet.

The agreement includes a schedule of deposit and pre-delivery payments, timeline of future deliveries, guarantees on aircraft performance and provisions on spare parts, maintenance and repairs. In addition, the parties intend to sign a comprehensive ‘Lilium Power-On’ agreement for aircraft fleet maintenance and support services.

HE Engr Ibrahim Al-Omar comments: “Saudia Group is proud to pioneer the MENA region as the first company to acquire all-electric eVTOL jets, which reflects our commitment to continuously reducing our carbon footprint and becoming an industry leader in regional electric aviation. We recognise the critical role that Lilium is positioned to play in enabling us to deliver a sustainable premium aviation experience and transport our guests even closer to their destination. This agreement amplifies our commitment to the Saudi Vision 2030 and is the result of a collaborative effort over the past years between Lilium and Saudia Group to explore how we can best bring eVTOL to the skies of Saudi Arabia.”

He adds: “The eVTOL jets are revolutionising guest transportation. Their unique vertical take off and landing capabilities open up entirely new routes. Imagine travelling up to 175 kilometres at speeds of 250 kilometres per hour, saving valuable time compared to traditional options. This technology also tackles traffic congestion head-on. Business travellers and exhibition attendees will benefit tremendously from the ease and speed of electric aircraft, allowing them to seamlessly attend and participate in events. These innovative vehicles will also be a game-changer for tourism, sports and entertainment, offering a premium travel experience for these exciting destinations.”

This initiative enhances connectivity by providing seamless first and last leg connections into Saudia Group’s regional hubs and new point-to-point city connections, such as Jeddah to Makkah, and is expected to reduce regional travel times by up to 90 per cent. These jets will support Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages, offer faster access to key sports and entertainment events in Riyadh and unlock new possibilities for exploring hard-to-reach tourist destinations across the Kingdom. Additionally, business travellers attending conferences and events will benefit from improved access and swift transportation.

Saudia Group expects to receive the first jets in 2026, for which operations will be managed and run by Saudia Private, its executive aviation subsidiary. The Lilium Jet will feature large, premium cabins with capacity for up to six passengers plus luggage.

Prior to commercialisation, Saudia Group will provide strategic support in Lilium’s certification process with the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), Saudi Arabia’s aviation regulatory agency.

Roewe says: “We are proud of our partnership with a market leading airline such as Saudia. And we are thrilled to be pioneering progress in the eVTOL industry as the eVTOL manufacturer with the largest reported firm purchase order from an international airline that plans to operate the aircraft. The Middle East is a priority for Lilium, and Saudi Arabia will be a very large and exciting market for electric, high speed regional air mobility. Our partnership will combine Saudia Group’s significant market knowledge with our unique eVTOL technology to transform premium class air travel in the GCC region.”

Lilium’s extensive order pipeline now consists of 106 firm orders and reservations, 76 options and roughly 600 aircraft under MoU. Lilium is in advanced discussions with additional global carriers that are looking to reduce carbon emissions and electrify regional air travel.

In other news, Lilium has confirmed its delivery schedule, allowing first customer deliveries in 2026, and provided additional programme details. This confirmation is based on a recent programme review that considered the testing and validation requirements needed prior to first manned flight, which is now scheduled for early 2025, and the readiness of its support organisation and training devices for its customers.

Lilium is currently building the first two aircraft at its production facility in Gauting, south of Munich, Germany. The company has been working with FlightSafety International on an engineering simulator, which will be delivered early next year. The simulator will be used to support the type certification programme.

Lilium Jet MSN 2, now scheduled to perform the first manned flight in early 2025, is being assembled with its fuselage, landing gear, wing, canard and electric harnesses. This change, driven by the delivery of certain parts of flight-testing equipment, component parts of the aircraft and software, is due to the indirect effects of the ongoing industry-wide supply chain constraints. It has no material impact on customer deliveries, programme planning or total programme costs, the company says. Assembly of MSN 3 will start later this year and the aircraft will join the certification flight test campaign in 2025.

Lilium and FlightSafety International will soon present a flight crew training simulator to EASA and FOCA (the Swiss Federal Office of Civil Aviation, which supports EASA in the training programme certification). This will pave the way to final development of the training devices.

On top of its certification effort, Lilium continues to build its support and services organisation, Lilium Power-On, to ensure a smooth entry into service experience for its customers. After having partnered with AJW Group for material services, Dedienne for the ground support equipment and StarCharge for its charging station, Lilium Power-On is now concentrating its efforts on digital solutions.

Roewe explains: “Lilium continues to make significant progress towards entry into service of its Lilium Jet, not only on certification but also training devices and support and services for our customers. Our latest programme review highlighted that our plan for 2026 first deliveries is confirmed despite the new timeline for the first flight, with no material impact on customer deliveries. With EASA, we continue to be working on the highest safety level of our product, and we are ramping up production of our test aircraft. We also want to announce by year end the 2026 launch location of the Lilium Jet with one of our customers.” source: Business Air News on Dubai Airshow