Saudia Group has disclosed an order for ten A330-900Ns from Airbus for its low-cost carrier subsidiary flyadeal (F3, Jeddah International). The first two are expected in 2027.

The airline told ch-aviation that three aircraft are currently scheduled for delivery in 2028 and the final five in 2029. They will be outfitted including up to 21 seats in a premium cabin.

The aircraft will be the first widebodies operated by the LCC. The carrier said it would use the aircraft on a mix of long- and short-haul routes. It will use them to expand its network to Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Indian subcontinent, to add more capacity on routes to slot-constrained airports in the region, and for additional uplift during the busy Hajj and Umrah pilgrimage flights.

flyadeal had planned to order widebodies by the end of 2024, but the finalisation of the talks was delayed by negotiations around engine durability and access to spare power units. The A330neo was long seen as the frontrunner, although the airline also contemplated the B787 type.

The ch-aviation fleets module shows that flyadeal's current fleet comprises eleven A320-200s and twenty-seven A320-200Ns, with a further nineteen A320-200Ns and thirty-nine A321-200Ns on order via Saudia Group. Parent carrier Saudia operates twelve A330-300s and nineteen A330-300Regional but has no A330neo on order.