flyadeal (F3, Jeddah International) is considering ordering either A321s or B737-9s in a bid to lower its unit operating costs, CEO Con Korfiatis told CAPA TV.

The Saudi low-cost carrier has issued a Request For Proposals (RFP) to major aircraft manufacturers for up to fifty jets to sustain its planned growth by eight to ten aircraft per year, Korfiatis said. Although flyadeal, sister carrier to Saudia, is currently an all-Airbus operator with three new A320s delivered over the last few weeks (all leased from DAE Capital), the new order does not have to include this type.

"Just because we are operating A320s today, it does not mean we will necessarily stick to that," Korfiatis told CAPA TV. He underlined that the airline will choose one manufacturer only and if it selects Boeing aircraft, these will replace the existing A320s. There is, however, a possibility that the airline will use different variants of aircraft from the same manufacturer. Korfiatis stressed that flyadeal is not looking at smaller aircraft, such as the A220-300 from Bombardier Aerospace.

flyadeal expects to take delivery of further two A320s by year-end and three more in the first half of 2018. While it will initially focus on domestic services in Saudi Arabia, it also plans to enter the international market in the second quarter of 2018.