Saudia sees big savings on fuel with Boeing 787s
File photo shows the Boeing 787 Dreamliner during the Farnborough International Airshow in Hampshire, Britain, last month. Saudi Arabian Airlines has signed a 12-billion-riyal deal for the purchase of 12 super-efficient airplanes to modernize its fleet.
Published: Aug 22, 2010 00:33 Updated: Mar 8, 2011 20:01
RIYADH: Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia), which has signed an SR12-billion deal for the purchase of 12 super-efficient Boeing 787 airplanes to modernize its fleet, will reduce its fuel costs by 20 percent as the new-version aircraft are highly fuel-efficient.
"All those airlines including Saudia, which have ordered for the new version Boeing 787, will save 20 percent in terms of fuel consumption alone," said Ahmed A. Jazzar, president of Boeing Saudi Arabia, here Saturday. Jazzar, who is also the vice president of Boeing International, said that high oil prices have created a lot of problems for airline industry including route cancellations in the US, Europe or even in Asia.
"Hence, the new Boeing 787 will be most favorable choice," he added. Jazzar, who gave an overview of the aviation industry with special reference to the market outlook of the Middle East, said that Saudia had ordered the Boeing 787 through a Kuwaiti leasing company and hence he cannot provide specifics of the deal.
Abdulrahman Al-Afalig, Boeing communications manager for Saudi Arabia, was also present during the briefing at the new Boeing office.
On the changing aviation landscape, and when the much anticipated Dreamliner Boeing 787 will take to the air, he said: "I am happy to see that Saudia will be one of the owners of the most advanced aircraft."
He pointed out that the Boeing 787 is a long range, mid-sized, wide-body, twin-engine jet airliner developed by Boeing. Its body, he said, will not face corrosion or rust. Jazzar pointed out that Boeing 787s are currently undergoing flight testing with a goal of receiving its type certificate in late 2010.
Asked about the trends of aviation industry in the Middle East, Jazzar said that the operators in the region will require more than 2,340 aircraft during the next 20 years.
"The total cost for purchasing these planes for flying in the Middle East will exceed $390 billion," added the Boeing chief. He said that Saudi Arabia, being a large country in the Middle East, would be one of the top countries in terms of demand of the new planes.
Referring to the relation of Boeing with Saudi Arabia, he said: "Boeing has been in Saudi Arabia for the last 65 years with its first Boeing DC3 plane that was used by late King Abdul Aziz."
Boeing, he said, was also working with King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) within the framework of the KAUST's industrial collaboration program.
"We are also working with the Riyadh-based King Abdul Aziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) and Al Faisal University in Riyadh" he added.
"Boeing has also planned to build an institute to teach aviation and aircraft maintenance skills to Saudi students in cooperation with TVTC," said Jazzar, adding that an MoU has already been signed in this regard.
Asked about the reports that the Kingdom would acquire 84 Boeing F-15 Strike Eagle jet fighters, he said that he cannot comment on the report published in the Wall Street journal. He, however, said that these kinds of deals are done on the government level. He said that "the backbone of the Royal Saudi Air Force is F15 aircraft" built by Boeing.
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