Riyadh: Saudi Arabia’s national carrier Saudia will receive 12 new aircraft throughout 2026 as the airline continues expanding its fleet to support international growth, tourism demand and network connectivity.

The airline said the new deliveries form part of a wider long-term transformation strategy focused on increasing operational capacity, improving efficiency and adding more international destinations.

The announcement comes as Saudi Arabia ramps up investment in aviation and tourism under Vision 2030, a national strategy aimed at diversifying the Kingdom’s economy away from oil and positioning the country as a global tourism and transport hub.

Saudia said the expansion will help modernise its fleet while strengthening connectivity between Saudi Arabia and global markets.

The airline recently introduced its first Airbus A321XLR aircraft and said the addition of the Airbus A321neo will further expand its narrow-body fleet capabilities.

According to the airline, the A321neo aircraft will feature 20 Business Class seats and 168 Guest Class seats. The cabins will also include upgraded seating and high-speed inflight connectivity.

Airlines across the Gulf region have been investing heavily in next-generation aircraft as competition intensifies for long-haul transit traffic, tourism flows and premium passengers. Fleet modernisation has also become a key focus area as carriers seek better fuel efficiency and lower operating costs.

Ibrahim Al-Omar, Director General of Saudia Group, said the airline’s fleet strategy is aimed at building “capacity, efficiency, and readiness” for its next phase of growth.

“In a highly competitive aviation sector, modernising and growing the fleet must be guided by clear market insight, network requirements, and alignment with national priorities under Saudi Vision 2030,” he said.

Al-Omar added that operational readiness and workforce development are being expanded alongside the fleet growth.

He said Saudia has graduated new groups of pilots, cabin crew and maintenance specialists through aviation training programmes to support incoming aircraft deliveries.

“With Saudia’s fleet expected to reach 161 aircraft by the end of the year, additional cohorts are currently undergoing training to support future deliveries,” he said.

Saudi Arabia has been aggressively expanding its aviation sector over the past few years, with the Kingdom targeting millions of additional tourists annually through large-scale tourism, entertainment and infrastructure projects.

The aviation push has also intensified regional competition among Gulf carriers as airlines across Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar expand fleets, routes and airport infrastructure to capture growing global travel demand.

Credits: Riyadh

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Under the agreement, passengers of both airlines will benefit from single-ticket booking, coordinated flight schedules, and baggage checked through to the final destination. This is expected to make travel simpler and more convenient for guests flying across the two networks.

Saudia passengers will be able to connect to several major Indian cities through Mumbai and Delhi. These include Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Kochi, Hyderabad, Chennai, Lucknow, Jaipur, along with more than 15 additional destinations available as interline connections.

Air India passengers travelling to Jeddah or Riyadh will gain access to onward Saudia flights to cities such as Dammam, Abha, Gassim, Gizan, Madinah, and Taif. The inclusion of codeshare flights on the Jeddah–Riyadh route will also allow travelers the flexibility to arrive in one city and depart from another. More international destinations are expected to be added later this year.

“The codeshare agreement with Air India marks a strategic step forward, given both airlines’ long histories and their shared commitment to increasing connectivity within their home markets and between their countries, while offering guests broader access to more destinations through simplified travel procedures that elevate the overall travel experience,” H.E. Engr. Ibrahim Al-Omar, Director General of Saudia Group, said.

“Saudia’s presence in India spans over 60 years, during which we’ve proudly served a wide range of guests and helped foster stronger ties between our two nations. Saudia Arabia is a great place to visit, and with seamless e-visas, stopover visas, and also visa-on-arrival for eligible Indian passport holders, it has never been easier to visit the Kingdom,” he said.

“Saudi Arabia is amongst our most important markets in the Middle East, with the country fast transforming into a major international gateway to the region. We are happy to be partnering with Saudia to provide greater access to the large Indian diaspora spread across Saudi Arabia as well as to open up the Kingdom’s rapidly evolving and diverse tourism offerings and remarkable destinations to holidaymakers from India,” Campbell Wilson, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Air India, said.

Since its privatization in 2022, Air India has expanded its global partnerships. The airline currently has 24 codeshare agreements and nearly 100 interline partnerships, allowing its customers to access over 800 destinations worldwide through its network of partner airlines.

Credits: Air India

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