Saudia
Saudia at a glance
Saudia is the flag carrier of Saudi Arabia and one of the Middle East's oldest airlines, founded in 1945 and flying about 145 aircraft from its Jeddah hub to 100+ destinations. Its defining mission is unique in aviation: carrying millions of Hajj and Umrah pilgrims to Jeddah and Madinah every year.
The airline is expanding on a Vision 2030 scale, with a 105-aircraft A320neo-family order, 39 additional 787s and a doubling ambition that runs alongside, not against, the new Riyadh Air; Saudia concentrates on Jeddah while the startup builds Riyadh. Low-cost sibling flyadeal grows beneath it in the Saudia Group stable.
Fleet
Saudia's renewal is among the largest in the region: a 105-aircraft A320neo-family order signed in 2024 plus 39 more 787s to nearly double the widebody fleet.
| Aircraft | Role | Fleet Size |
|---|---|---|
| Boeing 777-300ER | High-capacity long-haul and Hajj flying | ~35 |
| Airbus A321neo | 105-aircraft narrowbody renewal | 105 ordered |
| Airbus A320neo | Domestic and regional workhorse | ~50 A320 family |
Hub & route network
Jeddah's King Abdulaziz International is the primary hub, gateway to Makkah and the Red Sea coast, with Riyadh as the second hub; the network covers 100+ destinations with pilgrimage traffic a structural pillar.Alliance & partnerships
A SkyTeam member since 2012, Saudia codeshares across the alliance while coordinating nationally with the new Riyadh-based carrier Riyadh Air, launched in late 2025 under the kingdom's aviation strategy.Group structure
Saudia Group, wholly state-owned, spans the flag carrier, low-cost subsidiary flyadeal, cargo and services arms; Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 targets 330 million annual air passengers across the kingdom by decade's end.Full specifications
Latest Saudia coverage from AeroTime
Frequently asked questions
Pilgrimage: Saudia carries millions of Hajj and Umrah travelers to Jeddah and Madinah each year, a seasonal operation unlike anything else in aviation, alongside its scheduled network.
Yes, SkyTeam, which it joined in 2012 as the first airline from the Gulf region in the alliance.
They are complementary pillars of Saudi Arabia's aviation strategy: Saudia focuses on its Jeddah hub and pilgrimage traffic while state-backed startup Riyadh Air, launched in 2025, builds a Riyadh hub.