RIYADH — Minister of Transportation Sulaiman Al-Hamdan announced the addition of 63 new aircraft to Saudi Arabian Airlines' existing fleet. Al-Hamdan made the announcement on the Kingdom's National Day. "The new airplanes will be used for passenger transport. The ministry has a strategic plan to expand its services and improve the quality of these services. The airplanes will be used on national and international routes. The ministry has also contracted with several partners through the General Authority of Civil Aviation to expand and grow in order to achieve its goals under its strategic plan," said the source. Saudia's Director General Saleh Al-Jasser said the new agreements of the General Authority of Civil Aviation enlisted the ownership of 63 new airplanes. "We have obtained 15 Boeing 777-300ER, 13 Boeing 787 Dreamliner and 35 Airbus New Generation A320/A321-neo planes. The airlines signed an agreement last year with Airbus to purchase 50 A330 regional and A320 aircraft. The agreement was signed last year in Paris in the presence of Deputy Crown Prince and Minister of Defense Muhammad Bin Salman," said Al-Jasser. He said the airline received the airplanes last month. "The airline signed agreements this year and the year before for the purchase of a total of 113 new airplanes with advanced technological features. The airline will receive four airplanes of model B787-9 in 2017," said Al-Jasser. "Through several initiatives, the airline has invested in human resources, raised the qualifications of all of its employees, enhanced its services and improved its products to suit all kinds of guests and passengers," said the source.
