Under the tagline “A neo-way of flying,” Saudi Arabia’s national flag carrier Saudia has announced the extension of its fleet with the inclusion of a new aircraft type, the Airbus A321 neo.
This contributes to Saudia’s growth goals as the airline seeks to increase its fleet by 20 A321neo aircraft by 2026.
The narrow-body airliner A321neo is a member of the A320 family, the most widely used single-aisle aircraft family in the world and the aircraft of choice for airlines all over the world due to its reputation for excellent performance and great comfort.
The aircraft delivers new performance capabilities and can accommodate 180–220 passengers in a conventional two-class interior configuration.
The aircraft’s capacity to use a lot less fuel was the primary factor in the decision to buy it. Since the A320neo entered global service in 2016, the A320 family of aeroplanes have prevented the emissions of 20 million tonnes of CO2.
The A320neo has also seen a 20% decrease in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, a 50% reduction in noise footprint, a 5% lower airframe maintenance costs, and 14% lower cash operating costs per seat when compared to previous generation aircraft thanks to Sharklets, new fuel-efficient engines, and latest cabin innovations.
The CEO, Captain Ibrahim Koshy, stated of the fleet expansion: “We are eager to increase our fleet with the new Airbus A321neo aircraft. We will continue to buy cutting-edge aircraft from the best manufacturers in the world in order to uphold our commitment to providing the best guest experience and bringing the world to Saudi Arabia.
Koshy stated, “We applaud Airbus for continuously seeking to enhance the performance of their aircraft, which is consistent with Saudia’s objective to deliver the best travel experience for its passengers while helping to make aviation more sustainable.”
This alliance demonstrates Saudia and Airbus’ mutual trust and long-standing friendship. It also contributes to the goals of the Saudi Aviation Strategy, which aims to establish Saudi Arabia as a market leader in the sector by promoting customer satisfaction, boosting safety, and fostering environmental sustainability.
The plan fits in with Saudia’s expansion plans as it strives to lure 330 million tourists to the Kingdom by 2030. Saudia is striving toward its objectives of developing into an industry-leading airline by collaborating with Airbus and growing its fleet. He noted that Saudia’s fleet increase will aid in generating new employment possibilities for pilots, cabin crew, and other operational jobs.