KSA’s Future Aviation Forum ends on a high note: Saudi Arabia’s national flag carrier Saudia has made the country’s largest-ever aircraft order by placing an order for 105 narrow-body aircraft from Airbus, according to statements here and here. The order, worth USD 19 bn, will add more A320neo aircraft to Saudi’s fleet.

The breakdown: The aircraft from the order will be distributed between the flagship carrier and its low-cost subsidiary Flyadeal. Saudia is set to receive 54 A321neo, while Flyadeal will get 12 A320neo and 39 A321neo.

The landmark order could have been even bigger but Airbus cannot handle any more deliveries before 2032, Saudia spokesman Abdullah Alshahrani told Bloomberg. “We need more than 180 aircraft but there are no slots,” Alshahrani said. “We need the planes now. That’s our demand,” he said. Saudia will begin receiving aircraft from Airbus starting 2026.

By the numbers: Saudia has 144 aircraft in its fleet including 93 Airbus and 51 Boeing aircraft, according to its website. Its subsidiary flyadeal’s entire fleet is Airbuses.

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Beating Boeing: Saudia signed last year an agreement with US planemaker Boeing for the order of 39 787 Dreamliners with options for ten more aircraft. PIF-owned airline Riyadh Air made a similar order last year with options for an additional 33 aircraft. Riyadh Air was reportedly close to placing a large narrow-body order in November which Bloomberg said involved the Boeing 737 Max planes, but no agreement was closed.

Boeing’s negative press didn’t help: “What happened was the media three weeks later spent every hour of every day writing negative stories about commercial aviation,” Riyadh Air CEO Tony Douglas told Reuters. Political considerations had no bearing on the Boeing agreement being stalled or any other aircraft announcements, Douglas said, telling the newswire that future aircraft purchases will continue to “stay as split [between suppliers] as we can.”

Tried and tested: Flyadeal chose Airbus because it’s familiar with the European planemaker despite delivery delays. “It’s public knowledge there have been constraints and delivery delays for everyone,” he said. “I don't like it.... [but] what can you do?”

REMEMBER- Saudia could soon land in PIF’s portfolio: PIF reportedly in talks to acquireSaudia as soon as next year to add it to its aviation assets portfolio. PIF could take over Saudia’s ownership from the government with the intention of improving its efficiency and net income. It could be either privatized or merged with Riyadh Air — the second flag carrier being set up by PIF.

AND- Saudia will bid adieu to Riyadh by 2030 to make way for Riyadh Air and will instead base itself out of Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport

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