- Title: Saudi's flynas orders 60 Airbus jets, upgrades 20 more
- Date: 16th January 2017
- Summary: RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA (JANUARY 16, 2017) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VARIOUS OF FLYNAS CEO, BANDAR AL-MUHANA, AND AIRBUS MIDDLE EAST GENERAL MANAGER, FOUAD ATTAR, SIGNING AGREEMENT AL-MUHANA AND ATTAR SHAKING HANDS REPORTERS FILMING MEMBERS OF AUDIENCE APPLAUDING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) FLYNAS CHAIRMAN, AYED AL JEAID, SAYING: "The aircraft we are signing today includes the purchase of 120 aircraft A320neo, 80 confirmed aircraft, and 40 uncertain. The first batch of aircraft will be delivered in the next year and gradually to the year 2026. The deal is valued at 8.6 billion dollars." OFFICIALS LISTENING FLYNAS LOGO OFFICIALS SEATED (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) FLYNAS CEO, BANDAR AL-MUHANA, SAYING: "In just ten years our fleet has reached 28 aircraft and 1100 weekly flights to 34 domestic and international destinations. We have transported more than 6.3 million passengers on our flights in 2016." FRENCH AMBASSADOR IN RIYADH, FRANCOIS GOUYETTE, SEATED VARIOUS OF MEETING IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (English) AIRBUS MIDDLE EAST GENERAL MANAGER, FOUAD ATTAR, SAYING: "Flyadeal they took 6 airplanes, to be delivered this year. What we have is Qatar airways, Saudi airlines - they are receiving A320 this year, Saudi Gulf they have already received their A320s and many many others."
- Embargoed: 30th January 2017 15:47
- Keywords: Airbus Saudi Arabia flynas A320 neo jets aircraft Riyadh
- Location: RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA AND ANIMATION
- City: RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA AND ANIMATION
- Country: Saudi Arabia
- Topics: Company News Markets,Economic Events
- Reuters ID: LVA0015ZBVIX9
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Saudi Arabian budget carrier flynas is to buy 80 Airbus A320neo narrow body jets in a deal worth $8.6 billion that includes upgrading an earlier order, the airline announced on Monday (January 16).
The 80 A320neo order is valued at $8.6 billion, flynas Chairman Ayed Al Jeaid said during a ceremony to sign a deal between Airbus and flynas in Saudi capital Riyadh.
"The aircraft we are signing today includes the purchase of 120 aircraft A320neo, 80 confirmed aircraft, and 40 uncertain. The first batch of aircraft will be delivered in the next year and gradually to the year 2026. The deal is valued at 8.6 billion dollars," he said.
The order is for 60 A320neos and an upgrade of an existing order for 20 current model A320s to neos, an Airbus spokesman confirmed.
The agreement also includes purchasing options for a further 40 A320neo jets, according to flynas.
Reuters reported last week that Flynas, partly owned by Saudi billionaire Prince al-Waleed bin Talal's investment vehicle, had agreed to buy more than 60 A320neos.
Delivery of the 80 A320s will take eight years from 2018, according to an Airbus statement, likely to give flynas one of the largest Middle East budget airline fleets.
"In just ten years our fleet has reached 28 aircraft and 1100 weekly flights to 34 domestic and international destinations. We have transported more than 6.3 million passengers on our flights in 2016," said flynas CEO Bandar Al-Muhana.
The order means Airbus has beat rival Boeing to replace and expand flynas' fleet of 27 leased A320 jets.
Flynas, which launched as Nas Air in 2007 and first turned a profit in 2015, is facing increasing competition in Saudi Arabia, its primary market.
Start-up SaudiGulf Airlines and Saudi-owned, Egypt-based Nesma airline were granted domestic operating licenses in 2016.
State-owned Saudi Arabian Airlines has announced plans for its own budget carrier, Flyadeal, to launch in mid-2017 with a target of 50 jets by 2020. Qatar Airways-owned Al Maha is waiting for a domestic Saudi operating license. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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