Saudia Group has confirmed a notable fleet expansion for its low-cost subsidiary flyadeal, placing an order for ten Airbus A330-900 aircraft. This marks flyadeal's first acquisition of wide-body aircraft and signals the airline's entry into long-haul operations. The move is set to elevate the carrier's passenger offering while supporting its ambition to maintain the youngest fleet among low-cost airlines in the Middle East.
The agreement was formalised during a signing ceremony at Airbus' Toulouse facility, attended by key executives including H.E. Engr. Ibrahim Al-Omar, Director General of Saudia Group, and Christian Scherer, CEO Commercial Aircraft at Airbus. Speaking at the event, Engr. Al-Omar described the deal as “a pivotal milestone in our ambitious strategy to modernise and expand our fleet,” and highlighted its alignment with Saudi Vision 2030. The national plan aims to connect 250 destinations and serve over 330 million travellers and 150 million tourists annually by the end of the decade.
The new A330-900 aircraft, powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines, is capable of flying up to 13,300 km non-stop and feature Airbus' award-winning airspace cabin. This cabin design enhances the overall passenger experience with features such as improved lighting, increased personal space, larger overhead bins and cutting-edge entertainment and connectivity systems.
This latest deal builds on Saudia Group's previous order in May 2024 for 105 Airbus aircraft, including 54 A321neo for flyadeal. At present, flyadeal operates a fleet of 37 A320-family aircraft, while Saudia's own fleet consists of 93 A320-family and A330 aircraft.
The introduction of the A330-900 to flyadeal's fleet marks a strategic leap towards expanding its route network and reinforcing its presence in both regional and international markets.
