Saudi Arabian Airways : SV : SVA

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabian Airlines has signed a SR10 billion contract with Airbus to purchase 58 aircraft with advanced facilities, including A320s, A321s and A330s as part of the company’s efforts to modernize its fleet and meet global challenges.
Khaled Al-Molhem, director general of the national carrier, said the new planes would enable Saudi airlines to provide better services to its passengers. “We intend to modernize our fleet by purchasing the most advanced planes available in the world,” he said.
The Saudia chief spoke about growing competition in the air transport industry. “Saudi Airlines has been making concerted efforts to maintain its leading position among the world’s major airline companies,” he pointed out.
Al-Molhem was recently in the French city of Toulouse, along with other Saudia executives, to receive two A320 planes, which it bought from Airbus. “We have made advanced preparations for the new fleet of aircraft by training our pilots and other crew members,” he said.
“The A320 is the right aircraft for our ambitious modernization plans and offers unbeatable operational efficiency, proven reliability and the high level of cabin comfort expected by our customers,” Al-Molhem added.
The CFM56 powered A320 will be deployed on routes in the region, to Europe and to the Indian Subcontinent, from Saudia's hubs in Riyadh and Jeddah. Depending on configuration, the A320 fleet will seat between 112 and 132 passengers in two classes.
“We congratulate Saudi Arabian Airlines on taking delivery of their new A320, with 21 more directly purchased aircraft to follow. The A320 is and will remain for many years to come the benchmark in the single aisle aircraft category, which is why it is such an attractive asset for both our valued operators and leasers,” said Airbus President and CEO Tom Enders.

Jeannot a écrit:Bizarre en effet. Que reproche la famille royale au 777 ? C'est un avion merveilleux avec de très bon moteurs.

Saudi Arabian takes delivery of first ordered A330

Saudi Arabian Airlines has taken delivery of its first Airbus A330, after ordering the type two years ago.
The Saudi flag-carrier received the aircraft, a -300 variant, during a ceremony in Toulouse.
Saudi Arabian ordered eight A330s in July 2008 and selected Rolls-Royce Trent 700 powerplants for the type. Its fleet-renewal programme also produced an order for up to 50 Airbus A320s.

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Together with our new Airbus A320s, our A330s will allow us to get the maximum efficiency from flying two aircraft families which share common controls and maintenance," says Saudi Arabian Airlines chief executive Khalid Al Molhem.

Saudia sees big savings on fuel with Boeing 787s

RIYADH: Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia), which has signed an SR12-billion deal for the purchase of 12 super-efficient Boeing 787 airplanes to modernize its fleet, will reduce its fuel costs by 20 percent as the new-version aircraft are highly fuel-efficient.
"All those airlines including Saudia, which have ordered for the new version Boeing 787, will save 20 percent in terms of fuel consumption alone," said Ahmed A. Jazzar, president of Boeing Saudi Arabia, here Saturday. Jazzar, who is also the vice president of Boeing International, said that high oil prices have created a lot of problems for airline industry including route cancellations in the US, Europe or even in Asia.
"Hence, the new Boeing 787 will be most favorable choice," he added. Jazzar, who gave an overview of the aviation industry with special reference to the market outlook of the Middle East, said that Saudia had ordered the Boeing 787 through a Kuwaiti leasing company and hence he cannot provide specifics of the deal.
Abdulrahman Al-Afalig, Boeing communications manager for Saudi Arabia, was also present during the briefing at the new Boeing office.
On the changing aviation landscape, and when the much anticipated Dreamliner Boeing 787 will take to the air, he said: "I am happy to see that Saudia will be one of the owners of the most advanced aircraft."
He pointed out that the Boeing 787 is a long range, mid-sized, wide-body, twin-engine jet airliner developed by Boeing. Its body, he said, will not face corrosion or rust. Jazzar pointed out that Boeing 787s are currently undergoing flight testing with a goal of receiving its type certificate in late 2010.
Asked about the trends of aviation industry in the Middle East, Jazzar said that the operators in the region will require more than 2,340 aircraft during the next 20 years.
"The total cost for purchasing these planes for flying in the Middle East will exceed $390 billion," added the Boeing chief. He said that Saudi Arabia, being a large country in the Middle East, would be one of the top countries in terms of demand of the new planes.
Referring to the relation of Boeing with Saudi Arabia, he said: "Boeing has been in Saudi Arabia for the last 65 years with its first Boeing DC3 plane that was used by late King Abdul Aziz."
Boeing, he said, was also working with King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) within the framework of the KAUST's industrial collaboration program.
"We are also working with the Riyadh-based King Abdul Aziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) and Al Faisal University in Riyadh" he added.
"Boeing has also planned to build an institute to teach aviation and aircraft maintenance skills to Saudi students in cooperation with TVTC," said Jazzar, adding that an MoU has already been signed in this regard.
Asked about the reports that the Kingdom would acquire 84 Boeing F-15 Strike Eagle jet fighters, he said that he cannot comment on the report published in the Wall Street journal. He, however, said that these kinds of deals are done on the government level. He said that "the backbone of the Royal Saudi Air Force is F15 aircraft" built by Boeing.