Flyadeal is set to place its first widebody aircraft order before the end of the year, according to CEO Steven Greenway, who spoke at the Routes World 2024 conference in Bahrain. The low-cost airline, based at Jeddah International Airport, sees significant opportunities in widebody aircraft.
Aircraft Options and Configuration
Greenway indicated that the airline is evaluating both the Airbus A330 and Boeing B787 models, but has ruled out the A350 as “too large.” Flyadeal plans to configure the widebody aircraft with a small premium cabin while continuing to focus on overall cabin density. These new aircraft will enable the airline to serve long-haul destinations and expand its international footprint.
Domestic and International Flight Distribution
Greenway noted that currently, 80% of Flyadeal’s flights are domestic, with 20% being international. However, he anticipates this ratio will shift to approximately 65% domestic and 35% international by the end of next year.
Advantages of Widebody Aircraft
Flyadeal management expressed confidence in the advantages of the A330 and B787. Transitioning from the A320 family to the A330 is seen as beneficial for aircraft bodies produced in Europe. Additionally, since the parent company Saudia already operates the B787, this model is considered an important option. However, Greenway downplayed the possibility of acquiring any B787s from Saudia, stating, “This will be in addition to what they are already doing.” Saudia currently has orders for twenty-one B787-10 and eighteen B787-9 aircraft.
Overview of Current Fleet and Future Plans
Flyadeal operates a fleet of 36 aircraft, consisting of eleven A320-200s from Jordan Aviation (R5, Amman Queen Alia), twenty-four A320-200Ns, and one A330-200. Greenway noted that more widebody aircraft are expected to be leased in 2025. The airline also has an existing order with Airbus for an additional 58 aircraft, which includes nineteen A320-200Ns and thirty-nine A321-200Ns. Flyadeal aims to acquire an average of one aircraft per month over the next four years, with a goal of having a total of 88 narrowbody aircraft by 2028. The first A321neo is expected to join the fleet in the first quarter of 2026.
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