Saudi low cost carrier flyadeal increases fleet size

Saudi’s budget carrier flyadeal has taken delivery of its newest Airbus A320neo.

The aircraft marks a double milestone for the airline as it is both the first delivery of the year and the first fully owned aircraft in its fleet.

The arrival of the aircraft, named Al Sama (To the Sky) after an Arabic constellation star, initiates a delivery programme that will add four more aircraft to flyadeal’s fleet in 2024 and an additional eight A320neos next year.

flyadeal fleet size now totals 33 aircraft

This acquisition increases flyadeal’s fleet size to 33 Airbus A320 family aircraft, including 22 A320neos and 11 A320neo variants.

The new aircraft will be deployed immediately on flyadeal’s expanding domestic and international routes, which currently encompass nearly 30 destinations across Saudi Arabia, the Middle East, Europe, and North Africa.

Flyadeal’s CEO, Steven Greenway, along with Ahmed Bakadam, director of Maintenance and Engineering, and Ali Alzahrani, senior manager – Technical Fleet, attended the official handover ceremony at Airbus’ main assembly plant in Toulouse.

“The addition of aircraft number 33 represents a symbolic double milestone for flyadeal, bringing in our first fully owned aircraft and inducting the first new aircraft into the fleet this year. Until now, all flyadeal aircraft were leased. To have our first fully owned aircraft demonstrates the strength of our business and market confidence in our long-term growth strategy,” Greenway stated at the ceremony.

He added: “With a plan targeting around 50 aircraft by the end of 2025 and doubling to 100 by 2030, we are on course for a dynamic delivery schedule over the next few years. This growth path is driven by the strong demand for both inbound and outbound travel, catering to a diverse profile of travellers.

“The A320 family of aircraft has performed exceptionally well for us since we launched operations in 2017, and we are delighted to continue our partnership with Airbus, providing our passengers with high levels of comfort and convenience on one of the world’s most environmentally friendly narrowbody aircraft.”

In a significant expansion of its fleet, flyadeal placed its largest-ever order last month for 51 Airbus A320 family aircraft, including 12 A320neos and 39 larger A321neos.

The A320neo, featuring a spacious cabin with 186 seats in a ‘3-3’ configuration and larger-than-normal overhead bins, is the backbone of flyadeal’s fleet, which is among the youngest in the industry with an average age of just over two years.