Saudia is close to finalizing a major aircraft order, according to a person familiar with the matter, in a move that would add significant capacity to the Saudi flag carrier's fleet.

The source-based report, carried by Saudi financial news outlet Argaam on 8 May, gives no details on the size of the order, the manufacturer involved, or the delivery timeline. Saudia has not confirmed the talks, and neither Airbus nor Boeing has commented.

What would a new order mean for Saudia?

Saudia operates a mixed fleet spanning Airbus A320-family narrowbodies and A330 and Boeing 777 and 787 widebodies, serving the carrier's hubs in Jeddah and Riyadh. Any large incremental order would feed directly into the airline's network expansion as Saudi Arabia pushes rapid tourism and connectivity growth under its Vision 2030 economic program.

Fleet commitments at this scale also carry scheduling consequences: delivery slots at both major OEMs remain tight through the late 2020s, and an order signed now would likely translate into metal arriving several years out rather than near-term capacity.

How does this fit Saudi Arabia's wider aviation push?

The reported order sits alongside an unprecedented wave of Saudi aircraft commitments. Riyadh-based startup Riyadh Air, backed by the Public Investment Fund, has already ordered 39 Boeing 787-9s with options for 33 more, while national carrier Saudia and its affiliates were part of a framework agreement announced in March 2023 covering up to 121 787s split across the Saudi carriers — one of the largest widebody commitments in Boeing's backlog.

A further Saudia order, if confirmed, would deepen that pipeline and sharpen competition for Gulf hub traffic against Emirates, Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines.

Neither the airline nor the manufacturers have put a signature date on the reported deal. Until an order is announced with aircraft counts, engines and delivery schedules, the commitment remains a negotiation rather than a backlog entry.