The Fleet of Saudia (Saudi Arabian International Airlines) in 2020

Due to the current state of the aviation industry due to covid-19, A lot of airlines are restructuring their fleets, but how did the feet of 3rd largest middle eastern international airline changed recently?

Brief History of Saudia 

One of McDonnell Douglas DC-3 of Saudi Arabian Airlines

Saudia, Formerly known as Saudi Arabian Airlines, is the flag carrier of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The airline is based at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, With Airports in Riyadh and Dammam being the other main bases.

The airline was founded in 1945, when U.S President Franklin Roosevelt offered a Douglas DC-3 as a gift to King Abdul Aziz Ibn Saud, The founder of Saudi Arabia. The airline then used 5  McDonnell Douglas DC-3 to initiate its operations in 1947, and later in 1962 took delivery of 2 Boeing 720s for its international operations, Thus becoming the 4th Middle Eastern Airline to fly a jet aircraft.

Now, Saudia is the third largest Middle eastern airlines behind Emirates and Qatar Airways. As of September 2020, it operates to over 85 Destinations in the Middle East, Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America.

Fleet of Saudia 

Saudia was the first airline in the Middle East to operate the Boeing 747

With an average fleet age of 6.3 years, It operated a total fleet of 159 aircraft, of which 116 are currently in service and the remaining 43 parked.

Saudia is the first airline in the world to operate the Boeing 787-10, took its 5th delivery. Making a total of 5 Boeing 787-10 and 13 Boeing 787-9. Moreover, It was also the first middle eastern airline to operate the Boeing 747 in 1977, and operated a whopping 122 Boeing 747, of which 3 are currently in service and the remaining 6 parked.

The airline operated a total of 18 Lockheed L-1011 TriStar 

The airline also operates a fleet of Airbus aircraft as well, with 46 Airbus A320, 15 A321, and 32 A330. Moreover, It used to have 36 Airbus A300, 1 Airbus A310, 5 Airbus A319, and 4 Airbus A340, which are either scraped or leased back to their lessors.

Of the remaining 39 aircraft, it operates using its Boeing 777, in which 27 are in service and 12 parked as of now and 26 Boeing 737, 10 Boeing 757, 12 Boeing 767 were also used initially for its operations. 

Like many historic airlines, Saudia also operated 37 McDonnell Douglas DC-8s, 29 McDonnell Douglas MD-90, 6 McDonnell Douglas MD-11, 3 McDonnell Douglas DC-9.

Fleet Size of Saudia

The airline operated a total of 18 Lockheed L-1011 TriStar 

According to www.arabianbusiness.com, Saudia placed an order of 65 Airbus A320Neo of which 15 are of Airbus A321XLRs, Thus expanding its already variant Airbus fleet size. But with the downturn of tourism and leisure travel, The airline might adapt the strategy to lower expenditures and delay the new aircraft deliveries.

Reference 

Airfleets.net 2020, Saudia Fleet Details, Viewed on 29th October 2020

Planespotters.net 2020, Saudi Arabian Airlines Fleet Details and History, Viewed on 29th October 2020