A New Order For 150 Aircraft?
Why It Matters
The potential 150‑aircraft order could reshape the Middle East aviation landscape, while testing Airbus and Boeing’s ability to meet unprecedented delivery demands.
Key Takeaways
- •Saudia launches RFP for up to 150 new aircraft
- •Potential order could become airline’s largest fleet expansion ever
- •Airbus and Boeing compete amid global production backlogs and slot scarcity
- •Delivery timelines may stretch to 2032, prompting leasing alternatives
- •Decision hinges on commonality, price, availability, and network strategy
Summary
Saudi Arabian airline Saudia has entered the request‑for‑proposal stage with Airbus and Boeing to acquire as many as 150 new narrow‑body and wide‑body jets, a move Bloomberg says could become the carrier’s biggest purchase ever and a cornerstone of its Vision 2030 expansion plan.
The airline is still weighing the split between single‑aisle A320neo/737 MAX families and wide‑body types, but production bottlenecks mean delivery slots for the former are already booked through the next decade, while the A330neo is the only wide‑body with firm availability to 2032. Consequently, Saudia may need to consider leasing to bridge short‑term capacity gaps.
Analysts cite Avalon’s 2026 report that Saudi Arabia’s growing hub ambitions, highlighted by the launch of Riyadh Air, demand a larger, more modern fleet. Bloomberg notes the order would be fiercely contested, with price, commonality and network role driving the final mix.
If secured, the deal would reinforce Saudi Arabia’s push to become a major Middle‑East aviation hub, pressure Airbus and Boeing’s strained production lines, and force Saudia to balance growth aspirations against financial and demand‑risk considerations.
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