A330neo orderbook nears 400 as Saudia Group confirms Flyadeal widebody deal

April 23, 2025 in Business, Companies, Transport, Travel & Tourism by Editor

Mr. Fahd Al-Ruwaili, Saudi Ambassador to France ; His Excellency Engr. Ibrahim Al-Omar, Director General of Saudia Group ; Christian Scherer, CEO Commercial Aircraft at Airbus ; Saleh Eid, Vice President of Fleet Management and Agreements at Saudia Group ; Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, EVP Sales Commercial Aircraft at Airbus.

Airbus’ A330neo program is approaching the 400-unit milestone following a newly announced order from Saudia Group. The group confirmed a firm order for 10 Airbus A330-900 aircraft, earmarked for its low-cost subsidiary, flyadeal, marking the carrier’s first foray into widebody operations.

This order brings the total number of A330neo family aircraft on firm order — including both the A330-800 and A330-900 variants — to 394 units.

Flyadeal’s acquisition of widebody jets positions the airline for future long-haul operations and underscores its strategy to deliver an elevated passenger experience while maintaining one of the youngest fleets among Middle East low-cost carriers.

The agreement was revealed during a signing ceremony at Airbus headquarters in Toulouse today, attended by His Excellency Engr. Ibrahim Al-Omar, Director General of Saudia Group; Christian Scherer, CEO Commercial Aircraft at Airbus; Saleh Eid, Vice President of Fleet Management and Agreements at Saudia Group; and Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, EVP Sales, Commercial Aircraft at Airbus.

“This deal marks a pivotal milestone in our ambitious strategy to modernise and expand our fleet,” said H.E. Engr. Ibrahim Al-Omar. “It builds on last year’s historic agreement with Airbus for 105 aircraft and supports our national goals under Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to connect 250 destinations and serve over 330 million travelers and 150 million tourists by 2030.”

As of March 2025, the A330neo program had secured 384 firm orders, with 10 more added in January this year, building on the 82 logged in 2024.

“Saudia Group’s A330neo order for flyadeal marks a key step in advancing the Kingdom’s aviation ambitions,” said Benoît de Saint-Exupéry. “The A330neo’s proven versatility, next-generation efficiency, and excellent passenger experience will support Saudia Group’s strategic growth and help cement its role as a global aviation leader. We look forward to seeing this widebody workhorse fly in flyadeal colours.”

The new widebody jets build on the momentum from May 2024, when Saudia Group ordered 105 Airbus aircraft, including 54 A321neos for flyadeal. Currently, flyadeal operates 37 aircraft from the Airbus A320 Family, while parent company Saudia operates 93 A320 and A330 aircraft.

The A330-900, powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines, is capable of flying up to 7,200 nautical miles (13,300 kilometers) non-stop. It features Airbus’ award-winning Airspace cabin, designed to enhance passenger comfort with spacious interiors, enlarged overhead bins, advanced LED lighting, and the latest in-flight entertainment and connectivity systems.

As of the end of March 2025, the A330 Family had accumulated over 1,800 firm orders from more than 130 customers worldwide. In line with Airbus’ environmental goals, all A330 aircraft are certified to fly with up to 50pc Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), with a target of 100pc SAF capability by 2030.