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Saudi Air Eyes Global Hub with New Jets
27 Jul
Summary
- Saudi Arabia's airlines dominated jet orders at Farnborough.
- Riyadh Air secured 34 widebody jets from Airbus and Boeing.
- Other Gulf nations showed no new aircraft orders at the event.
At the Farnborough airshow, Saudi Arabian airlines emerged as the primary Gulf buyers, securing substantial deals for new aircraft. Riyadh Air signed an order for 34 widebody jets, splitting its commitment between Airbus and Boeing. Additionally, the budget carrier Flynas placed an order for 25 Airbus aircraft. This stands in contrast to the UAE and Qatar, where their largest carriers made no new order commitments during the event.
Despite a general hesitancy from foreign airlines regarding the Gulf region, local carriers are actively investing to fortify their positions as global transit hubs. Emirates, for instance, reported flying at 90% capacity and has no intention of deferring existing aircraft orders, underscoring the region's ongoing commitment to expansion.
