Saudia to phase out EMB-170s, mulls B747 replacement

Saudia (SV, Jeddah) Director General Saleh bin Nasser Al Jasser says the carrier's fleet of fifteen EMB-170s will be retired from active operations as part of the airline's fleet renewal process. The Embraer Regional Jets are currently used on thin domestic routes as well as on services to neighbouring Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates.

Speaking during a ceremony for the laying of the cornerstone of Saudia's new air operations centre in Jeddah, Al Jasser said a total of nineteen aircraft would be phased out over the next few years including its four own B747-400s (thirteen B747-400s are wet-leased from other carriers). 

Separately, CEO Abdulmohsen Jonaid has said the carrier is studying the A380-800 as well as either the B777 or its re-engined, upgraded variant - the B777X - as possible replacements for the ageing quadjet. On the issue of the B777, Jonaid said Saudia was also studying its options insofar as its ageing B777-200(ER) fleet is concerned. Among the potential options available include retiring them outright or retaining them for Hajj charter operations.

As part of its fleet renewal plans, the Saudi Arabian national carrier placed a firm order with Airbus Industrie (AIB, Toulouse Blagnac) during this year's Paris Air Show for thirty A320ceo and twenty A330-300Regional jets. The order was subsequently converted into a Sharia-compliant sale/lease-back agreement with Dubai-based International Airfinance Corporation (IAFC).

Saudia's first of eight B787-9s on order from Boeing (BOE, Chicago O'Hare) is expected to arrive in-country this December in time for its commercial debut early next year.

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