Arab News, Thu, Oct 31, 2024 | Rabi al-Thani 28, 1446
Riyadh Air orders 60 next-generation Airbus A321 aircraft
Saudi Arabia:
Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Air, a subsidiary of the
Public Investment Fund, has signed an agreement to purchase 60 Airbus A321neo
single-aisle aircraft, as it plans to commence its operations in 2025.
According to a press statement, the deal was
signed by Tony Douglas, CEO of Riyadh Air, and Christian Scherer, CEO of
Commercial Aircraft of Airbus, at the 8th Future Investment Initiative in the
Kingdom’s capital city.
Strengthening the operations of Riyadh Air is
crucial for Saudi Arabia as the Kingdom is evolving as a global tourism
destination, aligned with the economic diversification goals outlined in the
Vision 2030 program.
In September, the airline launched its first
non-commercial flight from Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport as part of
the certification process.
Last year, the airlines had ordered 39 Boeing 787
Dreamliners with options for 33 more, thus bringing the estimated fleet capacity
to 132.
“We are pleased to embark on another key milestone
in Riyadh Air’s journey with the carrier’s second major fleet order, this time
in partnership with Airbus,” said Yasir Al-Rumayyan, governor of PIF and
chairman of Riyadh Air.
He added: “This deal underlines the airline’s
ambitious intentions in advance of next year’s launch as it builds a
comprehensive international network and establishes Riyadh as a major strategic
global aviation hub.”
The Airbus A321neo airliner is widely considered
the most sustainable and efficient aircraft in the aviation industry, and it is
expected to fulfill Riyadh Air’s ambition to cover 100 destinations worldwide by
the end of this decade, the press statement said.
Riyadh Air added that the new order will also
support the airline’s long-term goal of creating 200,000 jobs and delivering
enhanced connectivity to Riyadh to the world.
“This order will not only enable us to support
economic growth in the aviation industry, it will also ensure Riyadh Air
operates one of the most sustainable fleets in the industry and be instrumental
in helping Saudi Arabia achieve its net-zero emissions goals,” said the CEO of
Riyadh Air.
Douglas added: “This deal strongly reinforces the
positive economic impact of Saudi Arabia’s newest airline on both a global and
local scale and helps facilitate the fast-growing local aviation ecosystem.”
The chief of Commercial Aircraft at Airbus said
that the latest generation A321neo aircraft will bring exceptional efficiency to
Riyadh Air’s operations and comfort to its passengers.
“We look forward to working together to support
the incredible growth of Saudi aviation,” added Scherer.