Sunday, October 6, 2024 Saudi Arabian low-cost carrier (LCC) Flyadeal is preparing to take a major step in its expansion strategy by adding wide-body aircraft to its growing fleet. Flyadeal, a subsidiary of the Saudi Arabian national carrier Saudia, currently operates 35 Airbus A320s, along with one wet-leased Airbus A330 for religious charter services. However, this number is set to grow significantly as the airline plans to place an order for either Airbus A330s or Boeing 787s by the end of 2024, as confirmed by Flyadeal CEO Steven Greenway at Routes World 2024 in Bahrain.
“We’re looking at an order, hopefully to be announced by the end of the year,” Greenway shared during his interview with Aviation Week. The introduction of wide body aircraft into Flyadeal’s fleet is a key element of the airline’s broader strategy to increase capacity and enter new markets, both domestically and internationally. Flyadeal’s management is currently evaluating two wide body aircraft models: the Airbus A330 and the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
Both models are known for their long-haul capabilities, but each has distinct advantages for the LCC. According to Greenway, the Airbus A350 was ruled out because it would be “too big” for Flyadeal’s operational needs. Instead, the airline’s focus is on the A330 and the 787, as these aircraft provide the capacity and flexibility needed to serve long-range routes.
The Airbus A330 is particularly appealing due to the compatibility it offers .
