Aviation360 MEA

The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) of Saudi Arabia reported on Sunday that the country’s aviation industry made significant advancements at the 54th Paris Air Show by concluding multi-billion dollar aircraft deals, showcasing investment prospects in the industry, and outlining a strategy for civil aviation.

The GACA said that Saudi airlines’ multi-billion dollar aircraft orders were a key highlight of the air show. The low-cost airline flynas confirmed an agreement with Airbus for 30 new A320neo family aircraft, bringing the total number of A320neo aircraft the airline has ordered from Airbus to 120, including 10 A321XLRs. As it continues to grow, the board also plans to soon boost its aircraft order book to 250 aircraft.

Saudia, the official carrier of the Kingdom, increased its order by 30 more airplanes, bringing the total number of firm orders from Boeing to 65. In the near future, the airline hopes to increase the total to 100.

The air show also became the venue for the launch of the first look of Riyadh Air. The airline’s purple livery was unveiled on the opening day of the event.

“Saudi Arabia is witnessing a rapid surge in air passenger traffic, both domestic and international, over the past few years. As part of the strategy, the Kingdom aims to enhance its air connectivity to 250 destinations worldwide, transporting 330 million passengers by 2030,” said GACA. It also intends to serve as a global logistics hub by doubling its air cargo capacity to 4.5 million tonnes by the decade’s end.

The Saudi delegation at the air show was led by the Minister of Transport and Logistics Services and GACA Chairman of the Board of Directors, Engineer Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, and GACA President Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej.