Saudi Arabia to buy 105 Airbus planes to boost its aviation sector
Saudi Arabia has placed an order for 105 Airbus planes valued at $15 billion (£12 billion) at list prices, aiming to bolster its position in global air travel.
The order includes A320neo-series single-aisle planes, which will be divided between the state-owned airline Saudia and its low-cost subsidiary Flyadeal, according to a statement released on Monday.
This move is a significant step in Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 plan, an economic diversification strategy designed to reduce reliance on oil exports. The plan involves significant investments in various sectors, including a new airport, tourist attractions like museums and marine life centers, an opera house, and the $500 billion Neom “smart city” in
the north-east.
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Riyadh Air, the kingdom’s newest flag carrier, is building a wide-reaching network with a fleet of Boeing planes. This effort is part of Saudi Arabia's broader strategy to attract more visitors and establish itself as a key global air travel hub, similar to Dubai and Qatar. The Middle East's geographic position as a crossroads for flights between Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America makes it an ideal location for such an endeavor.
In addition to Riyadh Air, Saudia, the existing flag carrier based in Jeddah, operates a variety of domestic and international flights and manages a high-capacity charter service for the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca.
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The new Airbus jets, comprising 12 A320neo and 93 A321neo planes, will primarily serve short-haul routes. About half of these aircraft will go to Flyadeal, positioning it as a competitor to FlyDubai in the burgeoning low-cost travel market in the Middle East. This order will increase the Saudia Group’s backlog for narrow-body aircraft to 144 planes.
Source: https://www.msn.com/