SAUDIA ARABIAN / Airbus A321NEO / F-WWAF / msn 13152

Alain Charpentier - TLS
 

SPECIAL LIVERY - Saudia Joins Esports World Cup 2026 as Official Airline, Unveils Fully Branded EWC Aircraft

 Expanding its partnership with the EWC as it supports the tournament’s first international edition in Paris

Saudia Joins Esports World Cup 2026 as Official Airline

Saudia, the national flag carrier of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the Esports Foundation (EF) today announced an expanded partnership naming the airline the Official Airline of the Esports World Cup 2026 (EWC).

Through this collaboration, Saudia will support the EWC’s first international edition in Paris, France, through a series of initiatives highlighted by the unveiling of the world's first commercial aircraft dedicated to an esports event. Revealed during an official ceremony at Saudia Technic in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, attended by government representatives, partners, media and creators, the specially branded aircraft will operate daily flights between Riyadh and Paris throughout the tournament and across Saudia’s international network for the next two years, serving as a long-term flying symbol of the partnership between Saudia and the Esports World Cup.

As the Official Airline of EWC 2026, Saudia is supporting the tournament through dedicated travel initiatives connecting players, fans, creators, clubs and event staff between Riyadh and Paris. Guests can enjoy EWC content, including the documentary Esports World Cup: Level Up, through BEYOND, Saudia’s inflight entertainment system, while selected live tournament broadcasts will be available in Saudia lounges throughout the event.

Saudia has already flown thousands of staff, selected Superfans, content creators and players to Paris for the event, with many more expected to travel over the coming weeks. Through the EWC Superfan program, the airline is enabling selected fans to experience the tournament in person while bringing MENA-based content creators to produce on-site coverage for audiences across the region.

The exclusive partnership extends beyond travel with Saudia’s community Fortnite tournament, building on the success of the 2025 edition, which engaged hundreds of thousands of fans on a custom map. The 2026 tournament introduces a new map featuring a branded airport and Saudia aircraft inspired by the real-life EWC livery. Winners will receive tickets to EWC 2026 Paris, giving them the opportunity to experience the tournament and join the global esports community in person.

"The Esports World Cup has always been about bringing people together through a shared passion for gaming. Our expanded partnership with Saudia allows us to extend that experience beyond the competition, connecting communities from Saudi Arabia to Paris and celebrating esports throughout the journey. From the world's first commercial aircraft dedicated to an esports event to onboard programming and fan experiences, our partnership reflects the global reach and cultural impact esports has today."

— FRANCOIS DESIR, DIRECTOR SPONSORSHIP AND ADVERTISING

"The Esports World Cup reflects Saudi Arabia's growing role in bringing people together through world-class experiences that resonate with audiences around the globe. As the Kingdom's national flag carrier, our role extends beyond travel to connecting people with experiences that create lasting memories and strengthen cultural exchange. This partnership allows us to engage a new generation while showcasing the energy, creativity and ambition that define Saudi Arabia today."

— MR. IBRAHIM BINAQUIL, MARKETING HEAD AT SAUDIA GROUP

The renewed partnership follows the success of last year’s Esports World Cup, which welcomed more than 3 million visitors to Riyadh. The collaboration builds on the relationship established in 2025, when Saudia and EWC signed their partnership agreement through an interactive digital platform that reflected the technology-led spirit of both organizations.

The Esports World Cup 2026 will be hosted in Paris, France, through August 23, welcoming more than 2,000 players and 200 clubs from over 100 countries to compete across 24 games and 25 tournaments for a share of a record-breaking $75 million+ prize pool.

SPECIAL COLOURS - SAUDIA / B777-3FG(ER) / HZ-AK-36 / "80 Years"

Mark Bess
New York JFK International Airport

FLEET - Saudia becomes first Middle East and Africa operator of the Airbus A321XLR

Toulouse, 25 May 2026 – Saudia, the national flag carrier of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, has taken delivery of its first A321XLR, marking a significant milestone as the first airline in the Middle East and Africa to operate Airbus’ newest extra-long-range single-aisle aircraft.

The aircraft, powered by CFM International LEAP-1A engines, is the first of 15 A321XLRs on order by the airline. This delivery is a cornerstone of Saudia’s comprehensive fleet modernisation program, directly supporting the expansion of its international network in alignment with Saudi Vision 2030. By increasing connectivity and capacity, the A321XLR will support the Kingdom’s ambition to attract over 150 million visitors annually by the end of the decade.

This delivery reinforces a partnership between Airbus and Saudia that spans more than 40 years, beginning with the carrier’s first A300 delivery in 1984. Today, Airbus aircraft remain central to Saudia's operations as it scales its fleet development and network growth.

Saudia currently serves more than 100 destinations across four continents, with the A321XLR supporting further expansion into new international markets. With a range of up to 4,700 nautical miles, the A321XLR enables Saudia to expand its international destinations with a single-aisle aircraft. These routes would have traditionally been served by larger widebody aircraft, while maintaining a premium guest experience.

​The aircraft features a highly premium, low-density configuration with 24 full flat Business Class seats providing direct aisle access, alongside 120 comfortable Economy Class seats. The aircraft features the Airbus Airspace Cabin, bringing a widebody experience to a single-aisle jet. Key features include extra-large overhead bins, advanced lighting systems and one of the quietest cabins in its class.

The A321XLR is the latest evolution of the A320neo Family, designed to meet the global demand for increased range and operational flexibility. It delivers a 30% reduction in fuel burn per seat compared to previous-generation aircraft, lowering CO2 emissions and noise footprints. Today all Airbus aircraft are capable of operating with 50% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) with a target to increase to up to 100% SAF capability by 2030, directly supporting the aviation industry’s sustainability goals.

To date, the A320 Family has secured more than 19,900 orders from over 300 customers worldwide, solidifying its position as the world’s most successful commercial aircraft programme.

SPECIAL LIVERY - SAUDIA / B787-9 Saudia / HZ-ARE - (75yrs c/s)

Ton Jochems - AMS
 

SPECIAL SCHEME - Saudia / B787-9 / HZ-ARB - painted in "94th National Day" special colours Sep 2024

 Ton Jochems

SPECIAL LIVERY - Saudia unveils first pics of Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner livery to mark National Day

Saudia has unveiled the first pictures of a specially painted Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner that is being redesigned to celebrate the upcoming Saudi National Day.
The selected Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, registered HZ-ARB, was pictured with deep green engine cowlings and a new snazzy tail design.
The Saudia Arabian flag carrier posted photos of the widebody jet over social media on September 10, 2024, as celebrations begin to build for Saudi National Day on September 23, 2024.

In a post on X Saudia wrote: “A special green preparation for Saudi National Day. 

Wait for us.”Saudia

In total the airline posted photos of the 787-9 Dreamliner as work to alter the aircraft’s livery nears completion.

On September 23, 1932, King Abdulaziz ibn Saud renamed the Kingdom of Nejd and Hejaz as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and in 1965 King Faisal bin Abdulaziz decided the day should be marked with national celebrations.

Every year Saudi National Day is commemorated with a public holiday and traditional festivities are held across the Kingdom.

 

SPECIAL LIVERY - Saudi Arabian Airlines / B777-368(ER) / HZ-AK43 - Ad-Diriyah E-Prix Livery

K.C.Wong
 

AIRBUS ORDER - Saudia Group orders 105 A320neo Family aircraft to support Saudi Arabia’s aviation goals

 

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 20 May 2024 - Saudia Group, represented by Saudia, the national flag carrier of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and flyadeal, the group’s low-cost carrier, has signed a firm order for an additional 105 A320neo Family aircraft. The order comprises 12 A320neo and 93 A321neo aircraft. This increases Saudia Group’s Airbus aircraft order backlog to 144 A320neo family aircraft.

The agreement was announced at the Future Aviation Forum in Riyadh in the presence of H.E. Saleh bin Nasser AIJasser, Minister of Transport and Logistic Services of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, H.E. Engr. Ibrahim Al-Omar, Director General of Saudia Group and Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, Executive Vice President Sales of the Commercial Aircraft business.

H.E. Engr. Ibrahim Al-Omar, Director General of Saudia Group, said: "Saudia has ambitious operational objectives to meet growing demand. We are increasing flights and seat capacity across our existing 100+ destinations on four continents, with plans for further expansion. The progress of Saudi Vision 2030 is attracting more visits, tourists, entrepreneurs, and pilgrims each year. This motivated our decision to secure this significant deal, which will create jobs, increase local content, and contribute to the national economy."

“The new additions of the A320neo family aircraft will play a vital role in contributing to Saudi Arabia’ ambitious Vision 2030 plan,” said Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, Executive Vice President Sales of the Commercial Aircraft business. “It will enable Saudia Group’s strategy to advance the Kingdom’s aviation capabilities while enabling both airlines to benefit from the A320neo Family’s exceptional efficiency, superior economics, highest level of passenger comfort as well as lower fuel-burn and emissions."

Saudi Arabia is creating unprecedented opportunities for global aviation through the Saudi National Tourism Strategy, which targets more than 150 million tourists by 2030. This order with Airbus will play a significant role in strengthening the Kingdom’s ambition of becoming one of the top global tourism destinations.

The A320 Family is the world’s most popular single aisle aircraft having won over 18,000 orders from over 300 customers in all markets. The A321neo is the largest member of Airbus’ A320neo Family, offering unparalleled range and performance. By incorporating new generation engines and Sharklets, the A321neo brings a 50% noise reduction and at least 20% fuel savings and CO2 reduction compared to previous generation single-aisle aircraft, while maximizing passenger comfort in the widest single-aisle cabin in the sky. As with all Airbus aircraft, the entire A320 Family is already able to operate with up to 50% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Airbus aims for all its aircraft to be capable of operating with up to 100% SAF by 2030.

The sole A330-200 leased by Saudia from Wamos Air has been returned after Hajj on 03aug23 JED-MAD

 José Ramon Valero - MAD

Saudi Arabia to launch new airline to compete with Emirates

Saudi Arabia is finalizing details for the launch of its new international airline that aims to compete with Emirates, sources told the Arabian Business.

The Kingdom has been working on the launch for the past 12 months, with the new venture backed by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF).

Sources close to the FIP said that “RIA” could be the name of the new company. Once launched, it will become Saudi Arabia’s second national airline, and will be based in Riyadh. The current SAUDIA operates from Jeddah.

Part of the country’s plan is to invest $100 billion in the aviation sector over the next eight years, most of which will go toward establishing a new national airline serving global routes.

“We are talking about a new airline that aims to do what Emirates did in a quarter of the time. It is unprecedented in aviation history. That’s also why they have yet to appoint an executive director. Whoever takes this job will have to meet the most ambitious goals he can imagine,” the sources said.

Saudi Arabian Airlines (SmartLynx Malta) / Airbus A330-343 / 9H-SMH - Air Asia x cs

 Malta Int'l - LMML, Malta

By: Buzu

Saudi Arabian Airlines, B787-9, HZ-ARB - First rotation in the 'Riyadh Season 2021' special livery

Photo:Harrison Rowe
Manchester Ringway Int'l Airport - EGCC, United Kingdom

SAUDIA Enhances Fleet with Suite of Boeing Services

                         

- SAUDIA selected Boeing's advanced digital analytics tools to improve maintenance operations and on-time performance of their 787 Dreamliner and 777 fleets

- Boeing will also provide interior modification services for SAUDIA's 777 fleet

• 
  

DUBAI, UAE, Nov. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- SAUDIA selected Boeing [NYSE: BA] for a suite of services to improve their 787 Dreamliner and 777 fleets' operational efficiency through digital analytics, and to modify their 777 cabin interiors. "As ever, SAUDIA is continuously focused on operational efficiency, optimal fleet utilization, and deployment," said Captain Ibrahim S. Koshy, CEO, SAUDIA. "We see our continued alliance with Boeing and these essential services as an enabler that will help to drive our progress toward this vision."

SAUDIA will utilize Boeing's Optimized Maintenance Program (OMP), which uses advanced data analytics to provide detailed insights for improved maintenance operations, and Boeing's Airplane Health Management (AHM) digital solution, which applies predictive maintenance analytics and diagnostic tools to help improve the quality and speed of maintenance decisions, resulting in improved on-time performance. These services will be combined with Boeing's OEM engineering and consulting expertise.

"Our Boeing consulting teams have partnered closely with SAUDIA for many years to find new opportunities to reduce costs and enhance operational efficiency. We are delighted to continue this partnership by applying our advanced digital solutions," said Ted Colbert, president and CEO, Boeing Global Services. "Similarly, SAUDIA will be able to rely on our 777 interiors engineering expertise throughout the course of their fleet reconfiguration plans."

Boeing's interior modification team will partner with SAUDIA to deliver all aspects of their 777 modification, including design, certification, and the supply of parts required for completion.

For more information on Boeing's Optimized Maintenance Program, Airplane Health Management, interiors engineering and other aftermarket services, visit https://services.boeing.com.

Saudia to take delivery of first A321neo(XLR)s in 2024

Saudia (SV, Jeddah) will take delivery of its first of fifteen A321-200NX(XLR)s on order from Airbus (AIB, Toulouse Blagnac) in 2024, chief executive Ibrahim al-Koshy has said.

During a two-day event held at the SAUDIA Club at the airline’s headquarters in Jeddah last month, Koshy said that the entire consignment of longhaul-capable jets would be in place by the end of 2026 and that they would be deployed on regional, European, and Asian routes.

The ch-aviation fleets advanced module shows Saudia also has twenty A321-200Ns on order along with twenty-eight A320-200Ns (which will go to budget carrier flyadeal). It is an existing A321-200 operator with 15 of the type currently in service.

Earlier this year, Saudia raised SAR11.2 billion Saudi riyals (USD3 billion) from several Arab banks to finance its planned acquisition of 70 new aircraft.

Ch aviation

To commemorate that 2021 is the "Year of Arabic Calligraphy", Saudia has applied a special livery to Boeing B787-9 HZ-AR13 (40047).

 SAUDIA

Saudia inks historic $3bn fleet financing deal

 

Punted as the largest deal to date in Saudi Arabia’s aviation history, Saudia (SV, Jeddah) has clinched a SAR11.2 billion (USD3 billion) fleet financing deal with six Saudi banks covering the airline’s aircraft financing requirements to mid-2024.

Part of the funding will go towards the acquisition of 73 new aircraft, including previously announced purchase agreements of twenty A321neo Family aircraft, fifteen A321-200NX(XLR)s, as well as thirty A321-200Ns for low-cost sister carrier flyadeal (F3, Jeddah), and eight B787-10s, the Saudi national carrier said in a statement.

The Saudi flag carrier has made significant investments in its fleet in recent years as the Kingdom pushes ahead with a plan to attract 100 million tourists and 30 million Umrah pilgrims per year under its Vision 2030 economic diversification plan. The airline took delivery of its fifth B787-10 in October, bringing the total number of aircraft in its fleet to 154, according to the ch-aviation fleets advanced module.

Providing the liquidity are Al Rajhi Bank, the Saudi British Bank (SABB), Arab the National Bank (ANB), Samba, Bank AlJazira, and Bank Albilad. HSBC Saudi acted as the airline's financial advisor and is the appointed investment agent in the transaction. Total bids received for the financing requirements exceeded SAR18 billion (USD4.8 billion).

The airline will continue to improve its facilities in order to capture a sizeable market share when the market rebounds, it said.

Transport Minister Saleh bin Nasser Al Jasser labelled the deal a “major milestone” for Saudi Arabia’s aviation sector, adding it would contribute substantially to the Kingdom’s long-term economic growth and development.

ch aviation

Photo: Jay Lee

SAUDI ARABIAN AIRLINES - B787-9 - HZ-ARF - "G20 Saudi Arabia 2020“ special livery, promoting the G20 summit at Riyadh

PHOTOS: Chale Lu

Guangzhou - Baiyun (CAN / ZGGG) - China 

SAUDI ARABIAN AIRLINES - A320-200 - HZ-ASG - "G20" cs

Riyadh King Khalid Airport - OERK, Saudi Arabia
By: AirlinerSpotter

AMSTERDAM AIRPORT - 16 / 17 APRIL 2020

Thank you so much Ton Jochems (continue) sharing your photos at this very difficult time for the whole world

 S5-ABO

TC-JOZ

 A6-BMA

 HZ-ARA

B-16722
Ton Jochems