In a landmark announcement at the ongoing Future of Aviation Conference 2024 in Riyadh, Ibrahim Al Omar, CEO of the Saudi Group, unveiled Saudi Arabia’s largest-ever aircraft deal involving the purchase of 105 Airbus aircraft.
The delivery of the first plane is slated for the first quarter of 2026.
During the conference, Al Omar highlighted that the order includes the A320neo model, with 88 aircraft scheduled for delivery over the next five years.
Additionally, he revealed plans for launching the first aircraft equipped with both Internet and Bluetooth services by the end of this year.
This massive investment by Saudi Airlines is aimed at boosting their contribution to achieving the goals of Vision 2030, which intends to transform the Kingdom into a logistical hub in the Middle East.
The Future of Aviation conference is expected to witness the signing of over 70 agreements and deals worth a total of $12 billion, along with numerous significant agreements with major global companies throughout the event’s duration.
During this significant week for the Kingdom’s civil aviation sector, Riyadh will host several key events, including the Seventh Meeting of the Directors General of Civil Aviation-Middle East Region; the Regional Safety Oversight Organisation for the Middle East and North Africa; the Airports Awards Ceremony; and the First Security Forum of the Arab Civil Aviation Organisation.
Ibrahim Al-Omar, Director General of Saudia Group, said: “Saudia has ambitious operational objectives to meet growing demand. We are increasing flights and seat capacity across our existing 100+ destinations on four continents, with plans for further expansion.”
Al-Omar added: “The progress of Saudi Vision 2030 is attracting more visits, tourists, entrepreneurs, and pilgrims each year. This motivated our decision to secure this significant deal, which will create jobs, increase local content, and contribute to the national economy.”
