Saudi Arabia's flynas Receives 2 Airbus A320neo

Nas Aircraft, the Saudi national economic carrier (Middle East)
Nas Aircraft, the Saudi national economic carrier (Middle East)
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Saudi Arabia's flynas Receives 2 Airbus A320neo

Nas Aircraft, the Saudi national economic carrier (Middle East)
Nas Aircraft, the Saudi national economic carrier (Middle East)

The Saudi budget airline flynas announced Monday that it had acquired two new Airbus A320neo aircraft, representing the third batch of 19 aircraft of the same model scheduled to be received this year.

Flynas signed an agreement with Airbus during the Paris Airshow to purchase 30 new A320neo aircraft as part of the national carrier's plans to increase its fleet.

Saudi Aviation announced that the size of the fleet has increased to 51 aircraft, up 96 percent in two years, compared to its size of 26 aircraft in the first quarter of 2021.

The two new A320neo aircraft arrived from Toulouse, France, and landed at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, bringing the number of aircraft delivered by flynas to seven; five are A320neo and two A330.

Flynas CEO Bander al-Mohanna announced that the airline received the second batch of A320neo aircraft in less than a month, within days of signing the agreement to purchase 30 new aircraft.

Mohanna affirmed that the purchase asserts the company's endeavor to support growth with modern and efficient operational capabilities, equipped with the latest technology as part of the strategy for growth and expansion under the slogan "We Connect the World to the Kingdom."

The CEO noted that the increase in the fleet size by adding more A320neo next-generation aircraft indicates the commitment to maintaining the position regionally and globally.

Skytrax, the international air transport rating organization, announced flynas as the 4th Best Low-Cost Airline in the World and kept its leading position as the Best LCC in the Middle East for 2023, for the sixth time in a row.

Last year, flynas' board of directors agreed to increase its orders to 250 new aircraft, making the Saudi carrier the largest budget carrier in the Middle East and North Africa.

The A320neo is a single-aisle aircraft popular with airlines for its fuel efficiency and low operating costs, reinforcing flynas' sustainability and environmental protection.

Flynas currently connects more than 70 domestic and international destinations, with more than 1,500 weekly flights.

Since its establishment in 2007, flynas has transported more than 60 million passengers and aims to reach 165 domestic and international destinations, in line with Vision 2030.



South Korea, China Industry Ministers Agree to Cooperate in Evolving Global Environment, Seoul Says

Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao attends a meeting with global business leaders at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, March 28, 2025. (Reuters)
Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao attends a meeting with global business leaders at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, March 28, 2025. (Reuters)
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South Korea, China Industry Ministers Agree to Cooperate in Evolving Global Environment, Seoul Says

Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao attends a meeting with global business leaders at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, March 28, 2025. (Reuters)
Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao attends a meeting with global business leaders at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, March 28, 2025. (Reuters)

The industry ministers of South Korea and China met on Saturday to discuss the evolving global trade environment and agreed to cooperate bilaterally as well as on multinational trade forums, the South's industry ministry said.

China's Commerce Minister Wang Wentao is visiting Seoul for a three-way ministerial meeting on Sunday with South Korea's Ahn Duk-geun and Japanese Trade Minister Yoji Muto.

"They held discussions on bilateral cooperation measures and trade issues in response to changes in the global trade environment," the South Korean ministry said in a statement.

The first meeting of the two countries' industry ministers is the first since November 2023 and comes as US President Donald Trump's promised tariffs are expected to impact imports from the two Asian export powers.

Trump has already imposed 20% tariffs on all Chinese imports, saying Beijing has failed to stem the flow of precursors for the addictive opioid fentanyl.

South Korea is bracing for duties that could hit its major exports to the United States, including semiconductors and electric vehicle batteries. Ahn has said a 25% tariff on autos unveiled this week by Trump was expected to create "considerable difficulties" for South Korean automakers.