April '25 Update: It’s raining planes in Saudi Arabia! 🇸🇦✈️

It’s official - flyadeal has confirmed an order for 10 Airbus A330 neo widebody jets, with options for 10 more. Deliveries begin in July 2027.

With this, both Saudi LCCs (flynas and flyadeal) are in the widebody game. It’s a clear indication of evolving network strategies and low-cost long-haul ambitions.

Indications are that these aircraft - likely in a two-class layout including Premium Economy - will be deployed on high-density routes linking the Kingdom with key labour, religious, and VFR corridors across South Asia, Southeast Asia, and possibly Africa (including Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, and potentially India and Pakistan.)

KSA's fleet is set to triple from the current ~250 aircraft to over 750, possibly before the end of the decade, adding impetus to Vision 2030. This number would certainly be even higher with Riyadh Air's second widebody campaign (where the A350-1000 and 777x remain in contention) and any sequential NB order.

Note: The 10 options are booked under the Saudia Group umbrella, allowing for potential intra-group mobility between flyadeal and Saudia. SV's A330 ceo fleet age is ~10.5 years (31 aircraft strong, ex. wet lease).

Below is a snapshot of the current fleet and orders.

(This write-up is for educational/ informational purposes only, and figures are directional at best)

(Views my own; happy to amend inaccuracies, if any)

More on Saudi Aviation:
1. The genesis of aviation in Saudi Arabia (1/2): https://bit.ly/3PSME7E
2. The genesis of aviation in Saudi Arabia (2/2): https://bit.ly/3QabMIk
3. Inception of GCC flag carries: https://bit.ly/46qwA48
4. KSA's current airport landscape: https://bit.ly/46EfsrJ
5. Corporatization of Saudi Arabian airports https://bit.ly/3tUJSYc
6. KSA's airline landscape https://bit.ly/48LCLAq
7. Ready reckoner on commercial aviation in KSA http://bit.ly/42zjqAU

#vision2030
#saudiaviationstrategy