flynas Takes Delivery of 50th Jetliner Out of Order for 120 Airbus A320neo

flynas is moving ahead in its ambitious plan for growth, expansion, and increasing the fleet size - AFP
flynas is moving ahead in its ambitious plan for growth, expansion, and increasing the fleet size - AFP
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flynas Takes Delivery of 50th Jetliner Out of Order for 120 Airbus A320neo

flynas is moving ahead in its ambitious plan for growth, expansion, and increasing the fleet size - AFP
flynas is moving ahead in its ambitious plan for growth, expansion, and increasing the fleet size - AFP

flynas, the Saudi air carrier and the leading low-cost airline in the Middle East and the world, celebrated taking delivery of the 50th airplane out of a large order for Airbus A320neo jetliners at a reception held at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh.

The company is moving ahead in its ambitious plan for growth, expansion, and increasing the fleet size.
Taking delivery of the 50th aircraft comes within an order to purchase 120 A320neo aircraft from Airbus with a value exceeding 32 billion riyals, which was at the time the second-largest purchase of A320neo aircraft in the Middle East, as a strategic step for flynas, SPA reported.
The deal with Airbus was a strategic step for flynas, consolidating its position as a leading low-cost airline in the Middle East, and one of the top four low-cost carriers in the world. The company is moving forward in its ambitious plans to double the fleet size after its board of directors approved an increase in purchase orders to 250 aircraft. This is in line with flynas’ strategic plan -- “We Connect the World to the Kingdom” -- in parallel with the National Civil Aviation Strategy to enable national air carriers to contribute to connecting Saudi Arabia with 250 international destinations and to accommodate 330 million passengers and to host 100 million tourists yearly by 2030.
In parallel with upscaling the flynas fleet, taking delivery of the new aircraft contributed to generating hundreds of quality jobs in the aviation sector, directly and indirectly. flynas recently announced the opening of applications in several programs, including the Future Pilots Program, Future Engineers Program, and the Cabin Crew Program for Saudi men and women.
This A320neo airplane is the third of its kind received by flynas since the beginning of 2024, and it is due to receive other batches of aircraft during the year, reinforcing flynas' commitment to sustainability and environmental protection. The A320neo is the most advanced, environmentally friendly, and fuel-efficient single-aisle aircraft worldwide.
flynas connects more than 70 domestic and international destinations with more than 1,500 weekly flights and has flown more than 78 million passengers since its launch in 2007, with the aim to reach 165 domestic and international destinations.



Saudi Business and Job Growth Hit 14-Year High

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (AFP)
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (AFP)
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Saudi Business and Job Growth Hit 14-Year High

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (AFP)
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (AFP)

Business conditions in Saudi Arabia’s non-oil private sector improved notably in June, driven by a marked rise in customer demand and expanded production, according to the latest Riyad Bank Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) data.

New business volumes surged, fueling the fastest pace of employment growth since May 2011. This strong demand for workers pushed wage costs to record highs, adding pressure on overall expenses and contributing to a fresh increase in output prices.

The headline PMI climbed to 57.2 in June from 55.8 in May - its highest level in three months and slightly above the long-term average of 56.9. The reading signaled a robust improvement in the health of the non-oil private sector economy.

Companies reported another rise in new orders last month, with growth accelerating following a recent low in April. Many firms cited gaining new clients, alongside improved marketing efforts and stronger demand conditions. Domestic sales were the main driver of the increase, while export sales edged up slightly.

Purchasing Activity Expands

Production continued to expand through the end of Q2, although growth slowed to a 10-month low. Purchasing activity picked up sharply as companies sought to secure additional inputs to meet rising demand, with the pace of purchase growth reaching its fastest in two years.

Employment growth accelerated as businesses rapidly expanded their workforce to keep pace with incoming orders, pushing hiring to the highest level since mid-2011. This strong recruitment trend, which began early in 2025, was largely driven by a rising need for skilled workers, prompting companies to increase salary offers. Consequently, overall wage costs rose at the fastest rate since the PMI survey started in 2009.

Facing mounting cost pressures from higher raw material prices, firms raised their selling prices sharply in June , the biggest increase since late 2023, reversing declines recorded in two of the previous three months. This price hike largely reflected the passing of higher operating costs onto customers, although some companies opted for competitive pricing strategies by cutting prices.

Resilient Economic Outlook

Looking ahead, non-oil private sector firms remained confident about business activity over the next 12 months. Optimism hit a two-year high, supported by resilient domestic economic conditions, strong demand, and improved sales. Supply-side conditions also showed positive momentum, with another strong improvement in supplier performance.

Dr. Naif Alghaith, Chief Economist at Riyad Bank, said: “Future expectations among non-oil companies remain very positive. Business confidence reached its highest level in two years, underpinned by strong order inflows and improving local economic conditions.”

He added: “However, cost pressures became more pronounced in June, with wage growth hitting record levels as companies compete to retain talent. Purchasing prices also rose at the fastest pace since February, partly driven by increased demand and geopolitical risks. Despite these challenges, companies broadly raised selling prices to recover from May’s declines, reflecting an improved ability to pass higher costs onto customers.”