Saudi budget carrier flynas has agreed to acquire five additional A330-900 widebody jets and 20 additional A321neo narrowbody aircraft from Airbus, the manufacturer said in a statement on Wednesday, deepening a partnership that now covers 235 firm Airbus orders.

The deal, announced at the Farnborough International Airshow, raises flynas's total commitment for the A330neo to 20 aircraft and its A321neo commitment to 56, according to Airbus. The airline currently operates 67 Airbus aircraft — two A330-300s, four A320ceos and 61 A320neos — and Airbus said the carrier's overall orderbook, including the new deal, stands at 280 aircraft.

Bander Almohanna, chief executive officer and managing director of flynas, said the move was intended to secure sustainable fleet growth over the coming years and to support the airline's six operating bases across Saudi Arabia, while also strengthening capacity for flynas Syria. He said the expanded orderbook would help the carrier access new markets, reinforce Saudi Arabia's position as a global tourism hub, and support the government's Pilgrim Experience Program, which facilitates travel to the Two Holy Mosques.

Almohanna added that the larger Airbus commitment would help the airline support growth tied to major events Saudi Arabia is due to host, including Expo 2030 and the 2034 FIFA World Cup.

Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, Airbus's executive vice president of sales for commercial aircraft, said the order reflected demand for the manufacturer's newest jets and the strength of its relationship with one of the region's fastest-expanding airlines.

According to Airbus, the A321neo — the largest member of the A320neo family — offers extended range and at least a 20 percent cut in fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions compared with previous-generation aircraft. The A330neo, powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines, is designed to fly up to 8,100 nautical miles (15,000 kilometres) non-stop and delivers a 25 percent reduction in fuel burn, emissions and operating cost relative to earlier competitor aircraft, the company said.

flynas, based in Riyadh, has positioned itself as Saudi Arabia's leading low-cost carrier as the kingdom pursues an ambitious expansion of its aviation and tourism sectors under its Vision 2030 economic diversification programme.

Source: PR