RYADH - Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) announced Wednesday that it had signed an agreement with German electric plane maker Lilium to purchase up to 100 aircraft, the airline’s chief executive said.
The planes are targeted for use in Saudia’s domestic network, Reuters reported.
Saudia CEO Ibrahim Koshy explained that the planes would carry between four and six passengers and offer a “premium service.”
“It shows Saudia’s commitment to sustainability because we’re talking about 100 percent electric aircraft and we are the first airline in the MENA region that’s introducing this as part of their network,” Koshy added.
audi regulators are expected to certify the planes in 2025, he said.
The announcement comes as Saudi Arabia continues to push to hit the country’s ambitious sustainability targets. Last year, the kingdom said that it would hit net zero by 2060, with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman stating that the country would invest more than $180 billion to reach that goal.
Earlier on Wednesday, Saudi energy giant Aramco announced that it would be launching a $1.5 billion sustainability fund to invest in technology to support a stable and inclusive energy transition. The fund will be managed by Aramco Ventures, the venture capital arm of Aramco.
Aramco is one of the world’s most valuable companies, and the world’s biggest producer of oil.
In other aircraft news, on Sunday, sources reported that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) is currently in talks with Boeing and Airbus regarding orders for about 80 jets. The new aircraft are destined for Saudi Arabia’s new national airline, RIA.