Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) has purchased a total of 63 aircraft in order to expand and modernise its fleet.

The newly acquired aircraft include 15 Boeing 777-300ERs, 13 Boeing 787s and 35 Airbus A320/A321neo planes.

Having already agreed to buy 113 new aircraft, Saudia will also take delivery of 30 aircraft by next year, 22 of which are from the 777-300ER, 787-9 and A330R family.

Saudia board chairman and Saudi Arabia Transport Minister Sulaiman Alhamdan said: “Saudia, within two years, has signed agreements to acquire 113 aircraft, in line with its fleet renewal and expansion initiative which is part of Saudia’s Transformation Programme that was launched last year to double in seven years what has been achieved in 70 years, and includes several other initiatives starting with investment in our people, upgrade operational efficiency and effectiveness, focus on total customer experience, optimise the network and creating distinctive products for our guests.

"By 2020, we will reach our targets of a fleet of 200 aircraft, 1,000 daily flights and 45 million annual passengers.”

“Several of the initiatives have already been executed and some are in the process so that by 2020, we will reach our targets of a fleet of 200 aircraft, 1,000 daily flights and 45 million annual passengers.”

The airline said that the newly acquired aircraft were in addition to the 50 Airbus aircraft, which feature A330 regional and A320 planes that Saudia signed last year in Paris, France.

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The airline is also set to receive 25 aircraft, including 21 wide-body, within the last four months of this year.

It received four new aircraft earlier this year.

Under its fleet modernisation plan, Saudia has already phased-out four 747-400 aircraft this year and initiated its phase-out for the ERJ-170 fleet of 15 aircraft.

Five aircraft from its 777-200 fleet of 23 aircraft and the remaining 18 will also be eliminated before the end of next year.

Saudia will also terminate its early generation of 28 A320 aircraft over the next two years.

Image: Saudia buys 63 new aircraft. Photo: courtesy of Saudia Airlines.