Saudi Arabian airline Flynas has placed a “landmark” order with Airbus for 30 wide-body A330neo and 130 narrow-body A320 aircraft, doubling the airline’s total Airbus orders to 280, according to a statement released on Thursday. Under the agreement, Flynas will buy 75 A320neo family aircraft and 15 A330-900, according to a separate statement by Airbus. Flynas will also have options for 55 A320neo aircraft and 15 A330s.

What we know so far: Deliveries for the A330neos are scheduled to start in 2027, flynas said. No financial value was provided but independent aviation consultancy estimates the value of the order at USD 5.7 bn, according to Reuters.

Remember: Flynas placed a top-up order with Airbus last year for 30 A320neos, bringing its SAR 32 bn 2016 purchase with the company to a total of 120 aircraft. The carrier received its 50th aircraft from the substantial order of Airbus A320 airliners in April.

Following in the footsteps of Saudia? National carrier Saudia is set to receive the first deliveries from its landmark USD 19 bn Airbus order in 2026, when it will receive 15-16 aircraft out of the 105 it ordered, Saudia Director General Ibrahim Al Omar said.

Preparing to go public: Flynas confirmed plans for a listing on Tadawul this year. Further details on the IPO were not provided, but there were reports advisors had been hired to line up an IPO in December 2023. The airline tapped Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and Saudi Fransi Capital for the IPO.

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