Even before the Farnborough Airshow kicks off, Airbus is already nearing two separate deals for over a dozen A330neo widebody jetliners. The Saudi low-cost carrier Flynas and German airline Condor are both in talks with Europe’s top planemaker, according to a report by Bloomberg.

Flynas is in the final stages of procuring eight examples of the A330neo while Condor is looking to buy six for its fleet, Reuters confirmed. Concluding negotiations ahead of the airshow marks a significant investment in long-haul market growth for each of these carriers.

Dual Investments In Affordable Flying From Across The Globe

Credit: Airbus

The latest batch will add to Flynas’ 30-deep order book for A330-900 widebodies, commonly referred to as the A330neo. The first deliveries from Flynas’ backlog are expected to arrive in 2027. While not as large as the Saudi carrier plans to grow, the Condor order will bring its total up to two dozen as the A330neo fleet stands at 18 now, according to FL360aero.

Flynas was the first low-cost carrier in Saudi Arabia when it began operations in 2007. The fuel savings and maintenance benefits offered by A330neos will greatly improve a climbing operations tempo as the company works to support the Kingdom’s tourism goal. The government’s Vision 2030 plan aims to establish direct flights to 250 destinations from Saudi Arabia and attract 330 million travelers through expanded air travel.

Meanwhile, Condor is transitioning from a period of modernization through replacement to growth. The preceding A330neo deliveries allowed the carrier to retire older A330ceo models as well as Boeing 767 jets. Now that the process is complete, expanding its inventory by 20% is an investment in capacity and a strong sign of confidence in the airline’s long-haul travel demand into the future. Airbus Chief Executive Officer, Commercial Aircraft, Christian Scherer, said in a company press release:

“The A330neo will allow Flynas to further grow into widebody markets by building on the A320, benefiting from Airbus’ unique commonality. Both aircraft types offer Flynas the perfect versatility and economics to expand into new markets while offering their passengers the latest cabin experience and comfort.”

Steward Of The Kingdom: Flynas & Vision 2030

Credit: Airbus

Flynas has invested heavily in a long-haul lineup expansion to establish low-cost travel to distant destinations as a year-round pillar of the airline’s business model. Many Middle Eastern carriers see surges in travel demand for pilgrimage to the holy sites in Saudi Arabia. The carrier has a total of over 60 airplanes of all types that perform more than 1,500 flights per week.

Flynas alone has served over 110 million passengers on almost 140 different routes to more than 100 destinations, domestic and international. This has been an important catalyst for the airlines in the Kingdom as well as the nation itself, but now Vision 2030 aims to solidify consistent international traffic through a larger portfolio of destinations. Simultaneously, the company is actively preparing for an initial public offering to list its shares on the Saudi stock exchange.

Securing the airframes necessary to position its fleet in an ideal composition to support the Kingdom’s overarching plans will also improve its performance after becoming a publicly traded corporation. In turn, higher share prices and confident shareholders will allow the company to continue building on the momentum into the future.

Condor’s Long Haul Fleet Upgrade

Credit: Airbus

For Condor, there is a major advantage to not only modernizing its flightline with more efficient power plants and systems but also consolidating its inventory. Flying a single-type inventory will also allow the budget carrier to protect its bottom line from fuel price volatility and supply chain disruptions, which have impacted many global airlines in recent years. Sticking strictly to the A330neo minimizes crew training requirements, reduces spare part inventories, and cuts back on overhead costs across the board.

The A330-900, equipped with Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines, cuts fuel burn to 2.1 liters per passenger per 100 kilometers based on estimates. It can also operate using 50% sustainable aviation fuel blends to reduce the carbon footprint of commercial aviation operations. That greatly helps the airline meet or exceed environmental mandates from the European aviation authorities as well as satisfy eco-conscious travelers that their planes are as efficient as possible.