By Youssef Yahya 
Saudia Group announced the biggest aircraft order in the kingdom’s history. The agreement, signed with European aviation giant Airbus on the sidelines of the Future Aviation Forum 2024, signifies a major step forward in realizing the ambitious goals outlined in Saudi Vision 2030.
The historic deal entails the acquisition of 105 Airbus A320neo and A321neo aircraft, significantly boosting Saudia Group’s existing Airbus backlog to 144 aircraft of the A320neo family. This strategic move aligns perfectly with Saudi Vision 2030’s focus on strengthening the kingdom’s transportation and logistics sectors. The vision aims to achieve a staggering 330 million passenger capacity by 2030, alongside expanding the country’s connectivity to a network of over 250 destinations.
Furthermore, the initiative prioritizes bolstering Umrah pilgrimage capacity, targeting a significant increase to 30 million passengers by 2030.
The breakdown of the acquired aircraft reveals a strategic distribution across Saudia Group airlines. The national carrier, Saudia, will take on 54 A321neo aircraft, while flyadeal, the kingdom’s low-cost carrier, will integrate 12 A320neo and 39 A321neo aircraft into its fleet.
The deal extends beyond just acquiring new planes. Saudia Technic, the group’s maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) arm, is poised to play a crucial role. The upcoming MRO Village at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah will provide comprehensive maintenance services for the new fleet, significantly enhancing Saudia Technic’s service capacity.
HE Saleh Al Jasser, the Minister of Transport and Logistics Services, highlighted the agreement’s significance in achieving the National Transport and Logistics Strategy’s goals. He emphasized that the deal “will contribute to enhancing the operational performance of Saudia, increasing flights and seat capacity, and launching new destinations.” This strategic move aligns with Saudi Arabia’s vision to transform its aviation sector and connect the world to the kingdom. Ultimately, the agreement reaffirms the country’s commitment to providing exceptional services that elevate the travel experience for passengers.
Youssef Yahya is the CEO and Founder of Aviation for Aviators, a platform dedicated to the aviation industry. With over 3 years of experience as an aviation writer, Youssef is passionate about sharing his insights on aviation, entrepreneurship, and the broader business landscape. As a Teaching Assistant in Entrepreneurship at Nile University, he also nurtures the next generation of entrepreneurs. When he’s not exploring the skies or business ventures, you can find him saying, ‘Drag your coffee, and let’s talk aviation, entrepreneurship, and football.’
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Mohammed Rizwan