Saudi Arabian Airlines, known as Saudia, is contemplating an aircraft order from Airbus SE or Boeing Co. “that could total well above 100 jets as part of a push to lure more tourists,” Bloomberg reports.
The carrier is targeting a fleet of 250 aircraft by 2030, which would mean adding around “100 for growth while renewing a significant chunk of an existing 150-plane fleet,” Chief Executive Officer Ibrahim Koshy said in an interview Monday, according to Bloomberg.
Saudia is targeting a fleet of 250 aircraft by 2030.
Most of the requirement is for twin-aisle planes, though options for Airbus narrow-bodies could be converted to firm orders, the report added.
Earlier this year, Saudi Arabia said it plans to target international transit passenger traffic with a new national airline in hopes of competing with Emirates and Qatar Airways. State-owned Saudia and its low cost subsidiary flyadeal mostly operate domestic services and point-to-point flights to and from the country of 35 million people.
Per the Bloomberg report, Saudia had an order blueprint ready at the end of 2019, but it was put on hold after the coronavirus pandemic grounded flights, and the fleet study has been revised several times. The company is now resolved to make a firm decision on purchases next year, Koshy said.
“We are in close negotiations with Airbus and Boeing for the wide-body fleet order,” the CEO said at the Dubai Airshow. “We have the narrow-body orders currently secured, though the fleet plan may determine additional planes.”
