Saudi Arabian Airlines to buy 22 new aircraft

18 December, 2007:

Saudi Arabian Airlines, the national airline of the Gulf kingdom, is on a shopping spree. The airline has said that it is looking at buying as many as 22 new airliners. It is expected that the purchase will help Saudi Arabian Airlines to replace old aircraft and expand to more destinations around the Middle East.

According to an aviation industry news source, the purchase agreement includes the rights to purchase another eight aircraft also if it wants. Saudi Arabian Airlines believes that the Airbus A320 would be the best choice when it goes shopping. That is because the A320s have operational efficiency as well as cabin comfort for passengers.

With the Saudi national all set to make the purchases, Airbus is also excited due to the fact that Saudi Arabian Airlines is one of the biggest and the longest-established airlines in the Middle East.

Saudi Arabian Airlines is undoubtedly one of the oldest airlines operating in the Middle East and has been in service since year 1945.

It all started when the then US President Roosevelt gave away a plane to the airline in 1945. With a fleet of as many as 117 aircraft, Saudi Arabian Airlines operates flights across the Middle East, Euorpe, Asia and North America. It has as many as 76 worldwide destinations currently and is owned not by shareholders, but by the royal family of Saudi Arabia.