Saudi Arabian national carrier Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) has become the launch operator of the Airbus A330-300 Regional, a derivative optimized for missions of up to five hours, or 2,700nm.
Jeddah-based Saudia ordered 20 A330-300 Regionals at the 2015 Paris Air Show and is now leasing them from Middle East-based International Air Finance Corp. (IAFC).
“The advantage of operating the new regional version of such a popular aircraft with proven operational flexibility and lowest cost per seat means unbeatable economics for our business and our customers,” Saudia DG Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser said.
The A330-300 Regional has a reduced operational weight of around 200 tons and is designed for regional and domestic operations. Airbus said the variant is 20% cheaper to operate than the long-range A330-300, because of its lower fuel burn per seat and reduced maintenance costs.
Saudia, which already operates 12 A330-300s as part of its 171-aircraft fleet, will use the A330-300 Regionals to increase capacity on its most popular routes and for its regional network expansion.
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