Airbus: Saudia Group Orders Up To 20 Airbus A330s: 10 For Low-Cost flyadeal

Saudia Group has announced an order for 20 new Airbus A330neo aircraft, with ten of them destined for flyadeal , the group's low-cost carrier. The deal marks the first widebody order for flyadeal and paves the way for new long-haul services and an elevated passenger experience. Since starting operations in 2017, flyadeal has become a leading low-cost carrier in the Middle East. Through various initiatives, it has achieved remarkable on-time performance, and with the new order, it looks to continue operating one of the youngest fleets in the region. Ten New Orders For flyadeal Photo: Airbus The new Saudia Group order comprises 20 A330neos, including ten Airbus A330-900 aircraft for its subsidiary flyadeal. The order was announced at a signing ceremony in Toulouse attended by Saudia Group Director General His Excellency Ibrahim Al-Omar and Vice President of Fleet Management and Agreements Saleh Eid, as well as Airbus Commercial Aircraft CEO Christian Scherer and EVP Sales Benoît de Saint-Exupéry. Given the A330neo's long range and efficiency, the deal aligns with the group's strategy to expand its presence and offer more destinations. According to Saudia, the aircraft will be delivered between 2027 and 2029. The new deal builds on last year's order for 105 new aircraft, which became Saudia Arabia's largest single order. Saudia Group Director general Ibrahim Al-Omar said, "Today's deal marks a pivotal milestone in our ambitious strategy to modernize and expand our fleet. It builds on last year's historic deal with Airbus for 105 aircraft. This step aligns with our national strategies under Saudi Vision 2030, which aim to connect 250 destinations." Low-Cost Operations From Saudi Arabia Photo: Anna Zvereva | Flickr According to ch-aviation , flyadeal currently has a fleet of 38 aircraft, comprising 27 A320-200neos and 11 A320-200s. Last year, Saudia Group announced an order for 105 Airbus aircraft , including 54 A321neo aircraft for Saudia and 12 A320neos and 39 A321neos for flyadeal. The deal, announced during the Future Aviation Forum 2024 in Riyadh, was the largest aircraft deal in Saudi aviation. The new deal supports Saudia Group's plans to enhance its operations and modernize its fleet, while improving aircraft maintenance and increasing efficiency. The widebody order marks a new era for flyadeal, as it looks to access new long-haul markets and attract new customers. Since its first flight in September 2017, flyadeal has flown over 12 million customers. Last year, Cirium , an aviation analytics company, ranked the national carrier Saudia as the second most on-time airline globally, with 86.35% on-time arrivals and 88.82% on-time departures. The ranking puts the airline on par with other global leaders, including Aeromexico, Delta, LATAM, and Qatar Airways. Notably, flyadeal was ranked the second most on-time low-cost carrier for two consecutive months, highlighting its commitment to offering passengers a seamless experience. Saudi Aviation And Airbus Orders Photo: Airbus In total, Saudia Group has a fleet of 194 aircraft, with 191 to be delivered in the coming years. The Group's expansion will support the country's economic growth and contribute to key strategic initiatives aimed at connecting the Kingdom to the world. Saudi Arabia is set to see high demand for air travel in the coming years, owing to the Riyadh Expo 2030 and the Kingdom's hosting of the 2034 FIFA World Cup . As of the end of March 2025, Airbus has delivered about 136 aircraft to 49 customers. During the last month of Q1 2025, the manufacturer delivered 71 aircraft to 37 customers, with orders of up to 211 aircraft. By the end of March 2025, the A330neo had received over 1,800 firm orders from more than 130 customers across the globe. Throughout the year, Airbus has delivered four A330-900s to CIT Leasing (Malaysia Airlines), Delta Air Lines, Cebu Pacific, and another one to CIT Leasing. As with Airbus' other new-generation aircraft, the A330 family can operate with up to 50% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and targets 100% compatibility by 2030.