Saudia Group Orders 105 Airbus A320neo Aircraft
To Meet Rising Passenger Demand
Saudia Group, represented by Saudia and Flyadeal, has ordered 105 Airbus A320neo aircraft. The order, confirmed at the Future Aviation Forum in Riyadh, signifies a significant stride in the Arabian Gulf state’s pursuit of aviation goals.
The undisclosed amount order encompasses 12 A320neo and 93 A321neo aircraft, catapulting Saudia Group’s Airbus aircraft order backlog to a staggering 144 A320neo family aircraft.
The base purchase price for a new Airbus A320neo is $110 million before options, while it is $120 million for an A321neo.
The announcement featured Saleh bin Nasser AIJasser, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Transport and Logistic Services; Ibrahim Al-Omar, Saudia Group’s Director General; and Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, Airbus Commercial Aircraft’s Executive Vice President of Sales.
Commenting on the strategic manoeuvre, Ibrahim Al-Omar, Director General of Saudia Group, outlined the pivotal role of the acquisitions in Saudia’s grand operational scheme.
“Saudia has ambitious operational objectives to meet growing demand,” stated Al-Omar. “We are increasing flights and seat capacity across our existing 100+ destinations on four continents, with plans for further expansion.”
Al-Omar emphasised the symbiotic relationship between Saudia’s expansion plans and the allure of Saudi Vision 2030, which attracts a steady influx of visitors, tourists, entrepreneurs, and pilgrims annually.
“This motivated our decision to secure this significant deal,” Al-Omar affirmed, underlining the anticipated socio-economic benefits in terms of job creation, enhanced local content, and substantial contributions to the national economy, instilling a sense of optimism for the future.
Transformative Impact
Echoing Al-Omar’s sentiment, Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, Executive Vice President of Sales of Airbus Commercial Aircraft, detailed the transformative impact of the A320neo family aircraft on Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 aspirations.
“The new additions of the A320neo family aircraft will play a vital role in contributing to Saudi Arabia’s ambitious Vision 2030 plan,” said Saint-Exupéry.
He elaborated on the manifold advantages offered by the A320neo range, highlighting exceptional efficiency, superior economics, heightened passenger comfort, and notable reductions in fuel burn and emissions.
Notably, the A321neo, the most prominent member of Airbus’ A320neo family, boasts unparalleled range and performance, making it an indispensable asset for Saudia Group’s strategic objectives.
Saudi Arabia’s visionary initiatives in global tourism, epitomised by the Saudi National Tourism Strategy, which targets over 150 million tourists by 2030, are poised to receive a substantial boost from this partnership with Airbus.
The order is envisaged to fortify Saudi Arabia’s ambition of emerging as a premier global tourism destination, aligning with its overarching Vision 2030 framework.
The Airbus A320 family is one of the world’s most popular single-aisle aircraft, with over 18,000 orders from 300 customers worldwide.
Featured image: Saudia’s Group’s order encompasses 12 A320neo and 93 A321neo aircraft. Credit: Airbus
