SaudiGulf Airlines (SGQ, Dammam) Chief Commercial Officer Karim Makhlouf says talks with Boeing (BOE, Washington National) over a proposed widebody order have focussed on a combination of B777 and B787 equipment.
The privately-owned Saudi carrier inked a preliminary agreement with the US manufacturer during President Donald Trump's visit in May last year.
As such, speaking to Reuters, Makhlouf said the talks have focussed on B787-9 and -10s as well as older B777-200 and -300 jets.
Last year, airline President and CEO Samer Majali told Arabian Aerospace that SaudiGulf will likely place a firm order for “eight to ten aeroplanes, with some options to make it up to 16". The widebody jets would initially be used to cover high-demand short- and medium-range routes before being deployed on longhaul routes.
“We will do long-range eventually, but the primary [aim] is [sourcing] a large people carrier that helps us [add capacity] in slot-restricted airports. Plus, we need an aeroplane with very low seat-mile costs,” he said.
As such, Majali said the B787-10 would be a worthwhile competitor to Saudia (SV, Jeddah International) and its A330-300Regionals which are currently deployed on short-haul, high-density routes.
SaudiGulf is also in talks with Airbus and Boeing over a narrowbody order for up to thirty aircraft with a decision due later in the year. No comment was made on the status of an order for sixteen A220-300s parent firm Al Qahtani Aviation Company has with Bombardier Aerospace (BBA, Montréal Trudeau).
SaudiGulf Airlines currently operates four A320-200s on flights covering Riyadh, Dammam, Jeddah International, and Abha domestically. On March 1, it will make its international debut with flights to Dubai International.
It will add two more A320 Family jets, either A320 or A321s, later this year in anticipation of the launch of service to Islamabad International, Lahore International, Peshawar, and Sialkot in Pakistan.
