Boeing Loses Large Narrowbody Saudia Order To Airbus
The Saudia Airlines group agreed to buy 105 narrowbody aircraft from Airbus, after strong rumors that the deal had been set to go to Boeing.
On the face of it, this deal doesn’t look like a Boeing loss. Saudia (aka Saudi Arabian Airlines) has a fleet of Boeing widebodies. But its existing narrowbody fleet has been all-Airbus, since 2007, when it retired its last 737-200s.
Image: AirbusHowever, late last year Saudia was reportedly in talks with Boeing, for a large order for the 737 MAX. Saudia already had orders for (and taken delivery of) A320neo-family aircraft. But the airline has had a strategy of splitting its orders between the two manufacturers.
In any case, the Boeing order didn’t materialize. Saudia itself is getting 54 more Airbus A321neos. Its subsidiary Flyadeal will get 39 A321neos, plus 12 A320neos. This increases the Airbus order backlog of the Saudia Group to 144 A320neo-family aircraft.
A Saudia A320. Photo: Anna Zvereva, CC BY-SA 2.0Saudia Says No To Boeing..