Saudi Arabia's biggest-ever plane order isn't going to Boeing

Saudi Arabia’s national airline has placed an order for 105 Airbus airplanes in the largest-ever deal in the country’s aviation history. The order will be delivered in the first quarter of 2026. The Saudia Group, the state-controlled owner of Saudia airline and low-cost carrier Flyadeal, made the announcement at the Future Aviation Forum in Riyadh. The deal adds to Saudia Group’s existing backlog of Airbus orders. The press release stated that the new order totaled $19 billion. The order is expected to contribute to Saudi Arabia’s program to diversify its economy and attract tourists. The country aims to attract 150 million tourists per year by 2030. Meanwhile, Airbus’s main rival, Boeing, continues to face scrutiny and challenges due to safety failures and financial losses.