Saudia weighs Boeing and Airbus options for new order

• State airline in initial talks to buy 150 jets
• Mulling narrowbody and widebody models
• New planes to replace some existing aircraft

State-backed airline Saudia is reportedly in initial discussions with Boeing and Airbus to buy an estimated 150 jets.

Saudi Arabia’s flag carrier is looking at narrowbody and widebody models from the US and European airplane manufacturers, Bloomberg reported, quoting unidentified sources.

The new planes will replace some of the airline’s existing aircraft, the report said.

Saudia placed an order for 105 Airbus A320neo family aircraft in May 2024. It ordered 39 Boeing 787 Dreamliners in March 2023, with options for 10 more airplanes.

The airline started in 1945 with a single twin-engine DC-3 (Dakota) HZ-AAX and currently operates 142 aircraft, according to its website.

In October new Saudi carrier Riyadh Air, owned by the Public Investment Fund, commenced operations with daily flights to London Heathrow.

The airline has 182 aircraft on order and has signed partnerships with 10 other airlines, according to CEO Tony Douglas. It aims to fly to 100 international destinations by 2030.

In November, Saudi Tourism Authority chief executive Fahd Hamidaddin said the country plans to launch three more airlines in an attempt to reach its ambitious tourism target of 150 million visitors annually by 2030.

Further reading:

• Saudi domestic tourism up but international visitors decline
• Boeing delays give Gulf carriers a new headache
• Saudi Arabia invites bids for charter airline