Saudia in deal with Germany’s Lilium to buy 100 eVTOL aircraft

National carrier Saudia Group has signed a firm order with German air taxi maker Lilium to buy up to 100 all-electric flying shuttle as the kingdom aims to expand its network of destinations and increase transit travel among the world’s continents with a major fleet boost.

The deal – a firm order for 50 jets with options for an additional 50 – was inked at Lilium’s headquarters, outside the German city Munich, by Saudia executives.

Announcing the massive order, Saudia said this expansion aligns with the goals of the Saudi Vision 2030 and the National Transport and Logistics Strategy, including transporting 330 million passengers, facilitating 150 million visits, and hosting 30 million Umrah pilgrims.

To align with these goals, the Saudia Group visited Airbus in Hamburg, Germany, following the deal signed between the two parties in May this year.

The deal includes the purchase of 105 aircraft, models A321neo and A320neo. Once all the aircraft have been delivered, the Saudi fleet will be among the most modern globally.

The Saudia Group’s visit also reflects its ambition to diversify its fleet to meet the current and future requirements under the ambitious national goals of connecting the world to the Kingdom.

The deal for the eVTOL jets mark a new direction for Saudia towards acquiring the latest innovations in aviation. These aircraft can take off, land vertically, and are fully powered by electricity.

This step follows the memorandum of understanding signed in October 2022 in Riyadh during the Future Investment Initiative Conference between the group and the German company Lilium to manufacture electric aircraft.

These electric aircraft can eliminate the need for traditional airports, cover a distance of up to 175 kilometres, reach speeds of up to 250 km per hour, and accommodate six passengers, offering significant time savings for individual travellers compared to other options

With this move, Saudia aims to enhance its role in supporting and empowering tourism, entertainment events, sports competitions, and various conferences and events hosted by the kingdom,” said a company spokesman.

The kingdom’s flag carrier said this deal will directly impact the national economy with an estimated value of SAR2.5 billion ($681 million) by increasing local content and manufacturing capabilities and providing opportunities for entrepreneurship in the kingdom.

It also forms a comprehensive strategy focused on localizing expertise and training specialized personnel. The manufacturing stages will offer greater opportunities for innovation and renewal in aviation, from production lines and logistics services to technology and artificial intelligence, stated the spokesman.

Integrating these aircraft into the kingdom’s operations will have future benefits, including enabling the Saudia Group, through its engineering arm, Saudia Aerospace Engineering Industries, to become a maintenance hub for the Kingdom, the Middle East, and North Africa, he noted.

Moreover, the group’s training arm, Saudia Academy, will train aircraft operations and flight management competencies.

This deal also opens up new economic cooperation horizons between Saudi Arabia and European countries allied with Airbus, enhancing investments and providing direct and indirect job opportunities in those countries, particularly Germany, he added.

According to him, these aircraft will help connect multiple destinations and provide air routes among the main airports where the group operates.

These planes will serve Hajj and Umrah flights, reach various events and tourist destinations, and support the business sector, he added.