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50 AIRBUS JETS DEAL

Saudia becomes launch operator of A330-300 Regional

RIYADH, June 15, 2015

Saudi Arabian Airlines has signed a major agreement with Airbus to buy 50 jets - 30 A320neos and 20 A330-300 Regionals - thus becoming the first carrier in the world to operate the new fuel-efficient widebody and single-aisle aircraft.

With this deal, Saudi Arabian Airlines has become the launch operator of the A330-300 Regional, said a statement from the carrier.

The passenger demand in Saudi Arabia is experiencing high growth both on domestic and regional routes. The new A330-300 Regional variant, specially designed for regional and domestic operations, is Airbus’ solution for markets with large populations and fast growing, concentrated air traffic flows, said the Saudi carrier.

The A330-300 Regional is set to boost capacity on several of Saudi Arabian Airlines most in-demand routes, enabling the airline to better serve the Saudi Arabian and regional travelling public, said a senior official.

These popular fuel-efficient Airbus widebody and single-aisle aircraft will join Saudi Arabian Airlines’ existing Airbus fleet of 12 A330-300s and 50 A320 Family, it added.

Saudi Arabian Airlines said in addition to the A330-300 Regional, it has also chosen to grow its A320 Family fleet with more of the world’s most flexible, productive and comfortable single aisle aircraft on the market.

Based on list prices, the 50-plane deal could be worth around $8.2 billion, said experts.

"The A330-300 Regional’s unique flexibility, high capacity and operational capabilities will enable us expand our domestic and regional network and better absorb growing passenger traffic," remarked Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, the director general of Saudi Arabian Airlines.

"Introducing the A330-300 Regional in our current fleet is an ideal choice and follows our previous commitment to a family of aircraft which already successfully helped us achieve our ambitions," he added.

Lauding the Saudia move, John Leahy, Airbus chief operating officer (Customers), said: "We salute the Saudi carrier for becoming the launch operator of the A330-300 Regional. We see a significant market opportunity for this exceptional aircraft, which is part of Airbus best-selling widebody Family."

"The A330 features a unique combination of unbeatable economics and fuel efficiency. Undoubtedly the A330-300 Regional will support Saudi Arabian Airlines to expand its network in the region in the most efficient way by offering increased capacity and  world-class comfort," he added.

According to Leahy, the A330-300 Regional is optimized to seat up to 400 passengers in Airbus’ best in class 18 inch wide economy seat comfort on missions up to 3,000 nm and offers significant cost savings through a reduced operational weight of around 200 tonnes.

The reduction in fuel burn per seat and maintenance costs will result in an overall cost reduction by up to 26 per cent compared with the today’s long-range A330-300. In addition, the A330 Regional benefits from the latest A350 XWB and A380 technologies, he added.-TradeArabia News Service




Tags: airbus | Operator | Saudia | A330-300 Regional |

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