Flyadeal confirms Airbus jet order for long-haul expansion
Image Credits: Getty Image
Saudi budget carrier flyadeal on Wednesday confirmed a deal to order 10 Airbus A330neo wide-body passenger jets as it expands into fast-growing long-haul markets in Southeast Asia.
The sister airline of state-owned national carrier Saudia said it had also acquired purchase rights for a further 10 of the Rolls-Royce-powered planes, also known as A330-900.
The announcement at a ceremony in Toulouse confirms details
Saudi Arabia's aviation sector is expanding as the kingdom invests billions of dollars in its Vision 2030 plan to diversify its economy away from fossil fuels and boost its private sector.
Flyadeal has not yet finalised routes for the jets but plans to target the busy Southeast Asia market – the latest low-cost airline to seek to break into long-haul flying, which has been a tricky bet for some budget carriers due to complexity and cost.
'I can pretty well guarantee that it's going to be Southeast Asia – Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia or the Philippines,' flyadeal CEO Steven Greenway told Reuters of the planned route expansion.
The airline will also be able to carry more passengers into congested regional markets, such as Dubai.
Greenway, a former senior executive at Singapore Airlines subsidiary Scoot, has said flyadeal aims for 100 jets by 2030.
No trade impact
In service since 2018, the A330neo is an upgraded version of the long-haul A330.
It has room for well over 400 seats in the dense layouts used by the Southeast Asian carriers that flyadeal is likely to compete with, such as Cebu and Lion Air.
Flyadeal plans to include some premium economy-type seats.
Greenway said Flyadeal had also looked at Boeing's newer 787-9 as well as the possibility of redeploying seven larger 777s held by Saudia.
The 787-9 has lower capacity in dense layouts and has a longer waiting time for delivery, while the 777 mini-jumbo would be harder to fill due its size, Greenway said.
Flyadeal also needs a minimum of 10 aircraft to run its network efficiently.
A330neo deliveries will start in July 2027.
Greenway said Airbus narrow-body operator flyadeal had not been affected by trade tensions given its mainly domestic focus.
'We still have fairly robust conditions in the Middle East as a whole,' he said, adding, 'I'm expecting summer to be robust'.
A more pressing concern is any significant fluctuation in oil prices and their impact on the economy.
'At the moment, things are steaming ahead. I don't really see anything that flags (problems) for me in terms of demand or the robustness of travel at the moment,' Greenway said.
Read:
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Channel Post MEA
13 hours ago
- Channel Post MEA
HCLTech And UiPath Collaborate On Agentic Automation
HCLTech and UiPath have announced a strategic partnership to accelerate agentic automation for UiPath customers globally. The partnership will drive large-scale transformation for enterprises across industries, enabling more intelligent and self-sufficient business process operations that require minimal human intervention. HCLTech will leverage its AI expertise to deploy the UiPath Platform, enabling autonomous operations in finance, supply chain, procurement, customer service, marketing and human resources. HCLTech will support this partnership with pre-configured AI agents and controls to ensure seamless deployment and scalability. The partnership aims to enhance business agility, optimize workforce efficiency and deliver faster returns on business process automation investments for global enterprises. HCLTech will also establish an AI Lab with UiPath in India to develop Industry Focused Repeatable Solutions (IFRS) and MVPs for the full automation lifecycle, from strategy to implementation and continuous optimization. HCLTech will leverage its global delivery model to support UiPath customers in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific. 'As we shift towards a new era with Agentic AI, agentic automation will be critical to provide businesses with the speed and agility to transform operations and unlock new business potential. Partnering with HCLTech allows UiPath to extend the power of its AI-powered automation to enterprises globally, accelerating intelligent transformation at scale. With HCLTech's deep expertise in AI, automation and industry solutions, UiPath customers will benefit from best-in-class implementation and business impact,' said Ashim Gupta, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer, UiPath. 'By co-creating next-gen AI-powered solutions with UiPath, HCLTech is setting new benchmarks for agentic autonomous operations that unlock unprecedented efficiency, agility and innovation for enterprises. Our proven expertise in hyperautomation, AI and cloud-first architectures helps us provide industry-specific and advanced automation solutions at scale,' said Raghu Kidambi, Corporate Vice President and Global Head, Digital Process Operations, HCLTech.
Sharjah 24
a day ago
- Sharjah 24
UAE pilgrims stand on Mount Arafat for the Hajj greatest pillar
UAE pilgrims arrive in Arafat in comfort and good health Dr. Omar Habtoor Al Darei, Chairman of the General Authority of Islamic Affairs, Endowments and Zakat and Chairman of the UAE Pilgrims Affairs Office, confirmed that all UAE pilgrims arrived safely and comfortably in Arafat. He noted that the pilgrims are in good health and under continuous care from the accompanying medical teams, who are ensuring their wellbeing during this sacred journey. Comprehensive support for UAE pilgrims Dr Al Darei emphasised the UAE Pilgrims Affairs Office's commitment to providing all necessary services and support. From medical care to logistical assistance, the office is working to ensure that every UAE pilgrim has a smooth and spiritually fulfilling experience throughout the Hajj journey. Appreciation for Saudi Arabia's hajj management Dr Al Darei also praised the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, along with all related Saudi institutions, for their exceptional efforts. He highlighted the successful implementation of programs, the use of modern technologies, and the outstanding services provided to pilgrims. These efforts led to a smooth movement of pilgrims between holy sites, including the transitions from Mina to Arafat and from Arafat to Muzdalifah. A seamless experience for millions of pilgrims Thanks to the coordinated efforts and logistical support, the process of grouping and transporting the large crowds of pilgrims was carried out efficiently and with great care. The experience reflects the high level of organization and the deep commitment to serving the Guests of God during this sacred time.
Al Etihad
a day ago
- Al Etihad
Muslim pilgrims pray at Mount Arafat in Hajj apex
5 June 2025 12:59 MOUNT ARAFAT, Saudi Arabia (AFP) Muslim pilgrims prayed atop Mount Arafat on Thursday during the high point of the annual Hajj pilgrimage, as Saudi officials called on participants to refrain from being outside during the hottest hours of the of pilgrims began to gather before dawn around the hill and the surrounding plain where the Prophet Mohammed is believed to have given his last some arrived early to take advantage of the relatively cool morning, carrying colourful umbrellas, many pilgrims will remain for hours of prayers and Koran recitals until the evening in the most arduous portion of the sunset, they will head to Muzdalifah, halfway between Arafat and the sprawling tent city of Mina, where they will gather pebbles so they can perform the symbolic "stoning of the devil"."This is something that I used to see every year on the TV screen during hajj and I always thought: 'I wish I could be here'," said 33-year-old Ali from Pakistan, one of 1.5 million pilgrims who had arrived in Saudi Arabia for the pilgrimage."I've been trying to get here... for the past 3 years," he added as he gazed at the mount. "I feel very blessed."Hundreds of pilgrims dressed in white dotted the mount itself, with many more at its foot praying or taking this week, Saudi authorities called on pilgrims to stay inside their tents between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm on Thursday, when the desert sun is at its spraying mist and providing cool air were dispersed at the foot of the this year have already exceeded 40 degrees Celsius as one of the world's largest annual religious gatherings, bringing together devotees from around the globe, kicked off earlier this week."I came here early to (avoid) the sun and later I will pray inside my tent," said 54-year-old Adel Ismail, from make this year's pilgrimage safer, authorities have expanded infrastructure, deployed thousands of extra personnel and relied on an arsenal of high-tech tools to help better manage have mobilised more than 40 government agencies and 250,000 officials, doubling their efforts against heat-related illness following the lethal heat wave of 2024. Shaded areas have been expanded by 50,000 square metres, thousands more medics will be on standby, and more than 400 cooling units will be deployed, the hajj minister has told AFP.
