Saudia Group Nears ‘Substantial’ Aircraft Order Ahead of RFP

Saudia Group is close to launching a major aircraft procurement, with an executive saying the airline has completed its assessment of how many jets it needs and is waiting for board approval to open a formal request for proposals.

Sanjiv Kapoor, the group’s executive vice president of strategy, said the carrier has completed the assessment of the number of aircraft it needs for growth and to replace its older fleet in the longer term, according to an AeroTime report of 7 October that follows Bloomberg coverage. First deliveries are expected in 2031.

What is known about the size

Saudia has not disclosed a figure, describing the order only as “substantial”. Earlier in 2026, reports suggested the group could order at least 150 jets from Boeing and Airbus, potentially including Boeing 777-9s and members of the Airbus A321neo family. Neither the number nor the aircraft types have been confirmed.

The purchase could be placed in a single transaction or in stages. It is expected to serve both Saudia and its low-cost subsidiary flyadeal.

The existing backlog

The group already has a large number of aircraft due. According to ch-aviation data cited by AeroTime, Saudia is awaiting delivery of 60 A321neos, 12 A321XLRs, 18 Boeing 787-9s and 10 787-10s. It also agreed on 6 July to buy four 777-200 freighters.

flyadeal has 61 aircraft on order: 39 A321neos, 13 A320neos and 10 A330neos. Adding those figures together, the two airlines have roughly 165 aircraft on order before any new purchase.

Why the timing matters

A 2031 delivery start puts the order at the back of long manufacturer queues. Both Airbus and Boeing are working through multi-year backlogs, and slots for the narrowbody A321neo and for widebody types are commercially valuable. Airlines that decide early can secure earlier positions, which is part of why fleet planning conversations have moved so far ahead of delivery.

The mention of the 777-9 is also notable. Boeing’s largest twin remains in certification, and an order would be a vote of confidence in the programme and its eventual entry into service. Airbus, for its part, would be competing to add to the A321neo family aircraft already on order at Saudia and flyadeal.

Process and next steps

The route to a contract has several stages. The board must first approve the plan. A request for proposals will then go to manufacturers, followed by evaluation of offers on price, delivery slots, engine terms and support. Only after that would a purchase agreement be negotiated and announced.

Saudi Arabia is expanding aviation capacity as part of its national strategy, and Saudia and flyadeal are central to the plan for growth in domestic, regional and long-haul traffic. The size and mix of this order will indicate how much of that growth the group expects to serve with narrowbodies, and how much with widebodies.

Until the board acts, the order remains a plan rather than a contract. The next signal to watch is the launch of the RFP and whether Saudia names the manufacturers invited to bid.