Saudia To Double Destinations to 140 Over Next 5 Years

Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) is planning to increase the size of its fleet, which currently stands at 188 aircraft, to about 300 aircraft by the end of 2032, said Director General Ibrahim Al-Omar.

He revealed that the national carrier aims to double the number of its destination to more than 140, compared to about 70 destinations currently, over the next five years, noting that the company will be among the top five airlines in the world by the end of 2027.

This comes in order to meet the increasing demand, especially as the Kingdom has become a global destination, and is preparing to host several key events, most notably Expo 2030 and the FIFA World Cup 2034, among others, noting that the carrier is working to double its destinations.

 

In an interview with Socrates podcast, Al-Omar indicated that the group will receive 191 aircraft by the end of 2032, including 100 electric aircraft (some of which will be additional and some will be replacements), the receipt of which will begin by the end of 2025.

 

He added that the purchase of these aircraft is financed through bank loans, reselling these aircraft and then leasing them, explaining that currently leased aircraft represent 40% of the fleet size.

 

As for the high prices of Saudia's airline tickets, especially since it is subsidized by the government, Al-Omar stated that the company does not receive any special support from the government and buys fuel at the same prices as the rest of competitors in the Saudi market.

 

The airline is currently working on a program to replace all current seats at the group's aircraft, which amount to 15,000 seats, since the current seats are unacceptable. the program will begin at the end of 2025 till the end of 2027, according to the official.

 

Al-Omar pointed out that a new category will be added to the aircraft, which is the premium economy, which adds larger and more comfortable seats.