Over the course of the past few months, 精东影业 has spoken with the airline精东影业 Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Tony Douglas, and its Chief Operating Officer (COO), Peter Bellew, to learn more about this ambitious project which aims to support Saudi Arabia精东影业 plans for tourism growth.听

This time, 精东影业 caught up with Riyadh Air精东影业 Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), Vincent Coste, at the Future Aviation Forum, which took place in the Saudi capital on May 20-22, 2024, to discuss details about the new carrier精东影业 commercial strategy.听

Find out more in the following video:听

The presence of Virgin Atlantic精东影业 Chief Commercial Officer, Juha J盲rvinen, at the Future Aviation Forum, which took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on May 20-22, 2024, provided an opportunity to learn the latest projects and plans of this iconic UK-based long-haul airline. 

How is the brand new SkyTeam membership working for Virgin Atlantic? Which new destinations does it have in its sights? What are the prospects to keep growing in the London market? What products and technologies are Virgin Atlantic investing in? 

We asked J盲rvinen about these and other questions on the sidelines of the Future Aviation Forum. Check out what he told us! 

Virgin Atlantic unveils 40th anniversary A330neo honoring Sir Richard Branson

• Aircraft
• Airlines

byLuke Peters

3 minute read

EVTOL developers are flocking to the region to strike deals with the local authorities and industry players. The Future Aviation Forum, which took place in Riyadh, May 20-22, 2024, was no exception.听

Visitors to the Advanced Air Mobility Pavilion at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center (KAICC) could get a close look at a full-scale mockup of Archer精东影业 Midnight, a sleek-looking eVTOL designed to carry four passengers and operated by a single pilot. 

Following its signature of a comprehensive partnership agreement with Abu Dhabi精东影业 Investment Office (ADIO) to roll-out eVTOL operations and build a production facility in that emirate of the UAE, Archer has started talks with Saudi authorities about establishing a foothold in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as well.听

精东影业 had the chance to speak with Archer精东影业 Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), Nikhil Goel, in Riyadh. Here is what he told us: 

Archer Aviation partners with Etihad for eVTOL pilot training in Abu Dhabi听听听听

• Aviation Technology and Innovation
• Future Aviation Forum

byLuke Peters

3 minute read

While a handful of flagship projects such as the launch of new national carrier Riyadh Air and the gigantic expansion of Riyadh’s King Salman International Airport (RUH) have often monopolized the headlines, the Saudi plans are holistic, encompassing the whole aviation value chain. 

精东影业 was on the ground at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center (KAICC), in Riyadh, to learn more about the Saudi Aviation Strategy (SAS), which was presented during the Forum, and we spoke with some of the main players involved in its design and implementation. 

The backdrop to this apparently sudden interest in a fast-paced development of the Saudi aviation industry is nothing other than the Vision 2030, which acts as a sort of strategic masterplan for the whole Kingdom and has economic diversification as one of its core pillars. 

The Saudi vision for aviation is also closely intertwined with the broader goal of making the Kingdom one of the world精东影业 top tourist destinations.  

Gloria Guevara, a former Mexican Tourism Minister who is currently Chief Special Advisor to the Saudi Ministry of Tourism, explained to 精东影业: 鈥淲hy do we want to diversify? Well, this country has had a lot of oil for many years, but it also has a lot of assets and great culture and great gastronomy and a lot of natural resources. We also want to share it with the world, create employment and have a benefit.鈥�  

Guevara explained that the country is investing $1 trillion in tourism and infrastructure. A large chunk of this investment is going to NEOM, a massive development project in the northwest of the country, with the rest going to a combination of other giga-projects, plus infrastructure initiatives and companies tasked with the further development of the sector. 

To provide a reference for the scale of these plans, Guevara alluded to the fact that, in order to fulfill them, Saudi Arabia is looking to expand its hotel capacity by at least 500,000 rooms. 

Another initiative called Air Connectivity is also supporting the establishment of new air routes linking Saudi airports with international destinations. Guevara explained that, in the 12 months preceding the Forum, around 20 new routes have been launched within the framework of this scheme. A lot of this growth is expected to happen within the Middle East region, but Europe, America and Asia are also seeing increased traffic to Saudi Arabia. 

A case in point is the Chinese market. By 2030, Saudi Arabia wants to attract between four and five million Chinese visitors.

In February 2024, Saudi Arabia signed an agreement with China to promote air links between the two countries. This has resulted in the establishment of new nonstop routes by Chinese airlines. On April 2024, China Southern launched nonstop flights between Beijing (PKX) and Riyadh (RUH), followed a couple of weeks later, on May 6, 2024, by Air China, which started its own thrice weekly service between the two capitals. These route inaugurations followed the launch in April of 2024 of China Southern Airlines of nonstop flights between Shanghai (PVG) and Riyadh. 

Are these growth expectations realistic? At the Future Aviation Forum, 精东影业 had the chance to pose this question to Andr茅 Martins, a partner at consulting firm Oliver Wyman and head of the firm精东影业 Transportation and Services Practice in India, Middle East and Africa. 

鈥淲e see that the global growth in air traffic is moving towards Asia and the Middle East via other parts of the world and there is still a very, very sizable connection flow that connects through this region. We expect that connecting flow to pretty much double or even triple in the next few years. So, there are still very sizable opportunities for Middle Eastern carriers to tap into,鈥� explained Martins. 

鈥淭here are different drivers of that. One of them is obviously GDP growth. Traffic is highly correlated with GDP growth and with population growth, which would be the second driver. What精东影业 more, in some countries in this region there was historically a lack of connectivity and the propensity to travel for the citizens was not the same as that of other markets. There is a lot of tourism opening as well, with new events happening in the region: conferences, sports events, other types of big activities that attract a lot of inbound traffic as well.” he continued.  

鈥淪ome of the markets in the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) have been a bit more advanced than others, but when you look here, at Saudi Arabia, there is a big push on the tourist offering side, which will attract domestic as well international tourism in years to come. We expect that all these underlying drivers will help traffic grow.鈥� Martins said, before adding a note of caution. 鈥淭here will be more competition as well, because supply is catching up very fast in terms of new airports, new airlines, new aircraft. Therefore, we expect that, in years to come, there will be a bit more pressure on the revenue management side of airlines and some more pressure on the yields and on the financials.鈥�  

So far, the Saudi aviation and tourism sectors appear to be delivering. 

In December 2023, Saudi Arabia reached the 100 million tourist mark defined in terms of trips, seven years ahead of its target. Of these, 27.4 million were international travelers, and the rest domestic travel. Following this success, the visitor figure target for 2030 has been revised upward, to 150 million, of which 70 are expected to be international. 

Saudi Arabia also aims to play a larger role in global logistics, with the air cargo sector being another object of a thorough growth and development plan. 

精东影业 spoke with Awad Al Sulami, Executive VP for Economic Policies and Logistics at GACA, the Saudi Civil Aviation Authority.

In addition to acting as the country精东影业 regulator, GACA is also the governing body of the free trade zones that have been established in the vicinity of Riyadh airport (and soon of other airports in the Kingdom too). 

鈥淭hese free zones are designed to be an economic accelerator. We are creating an environment for investors to come here. Not only creating an environment for investors to come with incentives such as zero corporate and capital repatriation taxes plus 100% ownership. Plenty of others are doing the same thing, but we are also providing access to the market, to the economy, and a direct connection to the airport itself. Investors don鈥檛 need to do clearance between the zone and the airport. It’s the gateway for re-export and, at the same time, to serve a big market in Saudi Arabia.鈥� he explained. 

Al Sulami explained also how the airport free zones will be connected to each other and with other key multimodal logistic hubs. 

鈥淭he first free zone in Riyadh is connected to the airport, also with the bonded warehouse that we have on the East Coast, at Dammam International Airport, and has also an inland transport connection with a dry port. So, it精东影业 well connected with whichever other (customs-)bonded areas you find within the country. The one in Jeddah is going to be connected to the port and the airport and with bonded warehouses in the south. The regulation and policies of these zones are 100% about enabling all this connectivity鈥�. 

Saudi Arabia has also been rolling out new laws specifically in support of the country精东影业 aviation goals. Al Sulami alluded to new laws being passed in Saudi Arabia in October 2023, providing a new legal framework for air freight and airport ground handling.  

鈥淏y creating these laws, we’re making sure that whoever comes to us as an investor in the zone is getting transparency when it comes to the relationship between the private sector, the airport and the rest of the stakeholders,鈥� he explained. 

As an example, Al Sulami mentioned a recent deal with SATS, a major Singapore-based airport ground services operator, which has recently invested in new terminals in Dammam (DMM) and Riyadh, followed by the signing of a 25-year concession agreement to build yet another terminal in Jeddah (JED).  

鈥淭he fact that investors are rolling in after the passing of this legislation is a clear testimony to the fact that the new regulation is actually in favor of investors, it’s making it easier for them to penetrate the market,鈥� he added.  

Some other legislative changes have been aimed at fostering the growth of the executive aviation industry in the Kingdom. 

As we reported on May 14, 2024, within the framework of the Kingdom精东影业 aviation strategy, Saudi Arabia aims to expand its executive aviation industry tenfold.  

The new regulatory framework provides more flexibility for private jet operators to sell empty-legs (that is, flights that otherwise run empty because of aircraft repositioning), and it has also removed VAT in order to equalize the obligations of local and foreign operators. 

In addition to committing to reduce the cost of fixed based operators (FBOs) and maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) activities, the Saudi executive aviation plan also contemplates some investments in new physical infrastructure, such as the opening of six airports dedicated exclusively for general and executive aviation and the opening of dedicated terminals at seven additional airports (only two such facilities existed as recently as 2021). 

The elephant in the room is, of course, the increasing concern in some quarters of international public opinion about aviation精东影业 environmental impact. 

精东影业 asked Captain Sulaiman Almuhaimedi, Executive Vice President for Aviation Safety and Environmental Sustainability at GACA, about this matter: 

鈥淲e have developed an environmental sustainability program, which is based on seven pillars: greenhouse gases, noise, biodiversity, waste management, energy and water management and, last but not least, climate change adaptation, to protect the industry from new weather phenomena in order to assure the safety of operations. We are taking a comprehensive approach to lower the environmental impact to the minimum possible while guaranteeing the development of aviation activities to meet the goals of our aviation strategy.鈥� he said. 

Saudi Arabia also wants to be one of the global pioneers in the roll out of electrically powered advanced air mobility technology.  

In fact, the Future Aviation Forum has a dedicated Advanced Air Mobility Pavilion, complete with full scale mockup of eVTOL aircraft such as Archer精东影业 Prosperity, Joby Aviation精东影业 S4, EHang精东影业 EH216-S and Flynow精东影业 unipersonal battery-powered helicopter. 

US-based Archer, which has just completed one more step towards its FAA certification, is exploring partnerships for a Saudi roll-out, after having already signed a similar partnership in the UAE with neighboring Abu Dhabi. 

Also during the Future Aviation Forum, EVE Air Mobility, the advanced air mobility arm of Embraer, announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Saudia Technic, the MRO arm of the Kingdom精东影业 flag carrier, to explore the possibility of servicing Saudi-based eVTOLs in the future. 

Captain Sulaiman Almuhaimedi referred also to the Advanced Air Mobility Roadmap as an important part of the Saudi aviation strategy. 

鈥淭he advanced Air Mobility roadmap has one main objective, which is the safe integration of the emerging technologies into the current ultra safe national navigation system. The roadmap looks at advanced air mobility integration from a wide scope, not only from an aviation point of view, since those technologies will be operating within urban areas and we need to coordinate and align with different governmental agencies which are not related to aviation,鈥� he said.  

鈥淪o, we built the roadmap upon six pillars, starting from the technology: we are contributing heavily to the incubation and testing of new technology. We have already tested several eVTOL vehicles in Saudi Arabia, especially in NEOM, and during the next Hajj, we are also going to test air taxis. These technologies will be employed to serve millions of pilgrims that gather in a very small and highly populated area. We want to make sure we can use the infrastructure, whether it is tangible, such as airports, vertiports or charging facilities, or intangible infrastructure, like the airspace. We’re planning to make sure that we properly design low airspace operations to make sure that these new technologies can operate safely and also coexist with conventional aviation activities,鈥� explained Captain Sulaiman Almuhaimedi. 

He added 鈥淲e are also working on advanced communications, because those aircraft will need real time connectivity and we want to make sure we have the required communication to guarantee a continuous exchange of data.鈥� 

He also referred to other aspects that will be necessary for successful eVTOL operations such as human capital, public acceptance and the need to have the right regulatory framework, both on the aviation and non-aviation side of things. 

鈥淲hen it comes to non-aviation regulations, we particularly focus on cyber security measures to make sure that we will secure those technologies from hacking, interference and any other emerging cybersecurity risks.鈥� 

He concluded: 鈥淵ou know, the beauty of safety is that safety is never a competition. Rather, it精东影业 a collaboration. We are reaching out to collaborate with all our partners around the world, be they aviation authorities, OEMs, service providers, experts, academia – all of them!鈥� 

The agreement focuses on the adoption of Embraer aircraft by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (particularly, the E2 regional jet series and the Eve Air Mobility eVTOL aircraft) as well as on potential technological cooperation, supply chain, and human capital development 鈥渢o achieve excellence in products and services, evaluate industrial capabilities and new business opportunities,鈥� said an Embraer statement.听听

Embraer has been working with local companies and the Saudi government to adopt its portfolio and to set industrial collaboration in line with the country’s strategic plan, known as 鈥榁ision 2030鈥�. The partners see the MoU as a further step to 鈥渞einforce the collaboration between Embraer and Saudi Arabia精东影业 growing aerospace cluster.鈥� 

The Kingdom精东影业 NIDC has been working to facilitate the growth and diversification of the Kingdom精东影业 manufacturing and industrial base through, among other activities, fostering partnerships between local Kingdom entities and international manufacturers to grow and diversify the Saudi economy.  

Also, as part of the agreement, Embraer has agreed to conduct further studies into the potential of its E2 regional jet family of aircraft for a new as yet unannounced airline that is being planned for the country.听

听

Away from conventional aircraft, Embraer精东影业 Eve Air Mobility (“Eve”) division also announced at the same event that it had entered into an MOU with Saudia Technic, a leading MRO (maintenance, repair, and overhaul) service provider in the Middle East. The agreement will see the partners explore the potential demand for MRO activities for electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft in the region.  

The agreement will include eVTOL MRO training and the evaluation of the infrastructure requirements and processes for the potential reassembly of Eve精东影业 eVTOL in Saudi Arabia. 

鈥淲e are delighted about the collaboration with Saudia Technic, which will support the introduction and scalability of eVTOL operations in the Middle East,鈥� said Johann Bordais, CEO of Eve. 鈥淭his MoU allows us to examine not only MRO activities, which are essential to ensure safety, reliability, and profitability but also address the logistical challenges we have to deliver our eVTOL to our customers in the region.鈥� 

鈥淭his MoA is in perfect harmony with Saudi Vision 2030, as it aims to establish Saudia Technic and Eve as leaders in the air mobility sector in Saudi Arabia and the broader Middle East,鈥� said Fahd Cynndy, CEO of Saudia Technic. 鈥淏y adopting cutting-edge technologies and seamlessly incorporating them into their operations, they are defining a new benchmark for aviation excellence in the region,鈥� he emphasized.听

In 2023, Eve announced the location of its first eVTOL production facility in Taubat茅, Brazil. Currently, the company is assembling its first full-scale eVTOL prototype, which will be followed by a comprehensive test and certification campaign.  

With letters of intent for nearly 3,000 eVTOLs already signed, Eve appears to be well-placed to play a significant role in the advanced air mobility industry globally in the future.听

Archer Aviation partners with Etihad for eVTOL pilot training in Abu Dhabi听听听听

• Aviation Technology and Innovation
• Future Aviation Forum

byLuke Peters

2024-05-21

The agreement, announced at the Future Aviation Forum being held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia between May 20 and 22, 2024, lays the groundwork for a commercial partnership that aims to recruit and train prospective pilots for Archer精东影业 Midnight aircraft that will be based in Abu Dhabi and operate across the UAE.  

Archer精东影业 Midnight aircraft is a piloted, four-passenger aircraft designed to perform rapid back-to-back flights with minimal charge time between flights. Archer精东影业 goal is to transform urban travel, replacing 60 to 90-minute commutes by car with estimated 10 to 20-minute electric air taxi flights that are safe, sustainable, low-noise, and cost-competitive with ground transportation.  

California-based Archer has been working with various entities within Abu Dhabi and Dubai to accelerate the operation of its air taxi services across the region. In March 2024, the eVTOL developer formed a partnership with the flight service operator Falcon Aviation to develop a vertiport network in Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the UAE to enable flights between the two cities.鈥�

Under the partnership, the two companies will develop vertiport infrastructure in the region that will cut the two-hour car journey between Dubai and Abu Dhabi during peak times to 30 minutes by eVTOL.鈥疺ertiports will be located at Falcon Heliport at Atlantis, the Palm in Dubai, and the Marina Mall heliport in Abu Dhabi精东影业 Corniche.鈥� 

Meanwhile, in April 2024, Archer and the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) signed an agreement that will accelerate Archer精东影业 planned commercial air taxi operations in the UAE, slated to launch as early as 2025. 

鈥淭raining a fleet of pilots to operate our aircraft is a critically important part of our efforts to establish a thriving urban air mobility network in Abu Dhabi and the rest of the UAE, and Etihad Training is the premier organization to partner with on this front,鈥� said Archer精东影业 Chief Commercial Officer, Nikhil Goel.  

鈥淎s Etihad Training精东影业 first eVTOL partner, we will commence a thoughtful recruiting process and begin to train the first class of qualified pilots to operate Archer精东影业 Midnight aircraft for commercial operations within the region,鈥� he added. 

鈥淓tihad Aviation Training today recruits and trains pilots to fly with dozens of global airlines,鈥� commented Etihad Training精东影业 CEO, Captain Paolo La Cava. 鈥淲e couldn鈥檛 be more excited to choose Archer as our first eVTOL partner to recruit and train the first class of electric air taxi pilots to fly Archer精东影业 Midnight aircraft right here in Abu Dhabi as soon as 2025. We look forward to installing the Archer Midnight flight simulator in our facilities later this year.鈥澨�

As part of the planned partnership, Archer intends to deliver a Midnight aircraft simulator to be housed and staffed by Etihad Training at its training center in Abu Dhabi for research and development of pilot training competencies, to support the required regulatory certifications.  

Additionally, Etihad Training will engage with the General Civil Aviation Authority of the UAE to establish appropriate pilot training requirements in support of safe and efficient operations of Archer精东影业 aircraft across the region.听

Lilium considers setting up eVTOL production plant in France

• Aviation Technology and Innovation

byClement Charpentreau

2024-05-14

The order also represents the largest order for new aircraft in the carrier精东影业 79-year history, with the first of the new aircraft scheduled to arrive with the airline in the first quarter of 2026. The breakdown of the order includes 12 A320neos and 93 A321neo aircraft and will increase Saudia Group精东影业 Airbus aircraft order backlog to 144 A320neo family aircraft.

The agreement was announced in the presence of H.E. Saleh bin Nasser AIJasser, Minister of Transport and Logistic Services of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, H.E. Engr. Ibrahim Al-Omar, Director General of Saudia Group, and Beno卯t de Saint-Exup茅ry, Executive Vice President of Sales of Airbus鈥� Commercial Aircraft business.

“Saudia has ambitious operational objectives to meet growing demand,鈥� said Al-Omar. 鈥淲e are increasing flights and seat capacity across our existing 100+ destinations on four continents, with plans for further expansion.鈥�

鈥淭he progress of Saudi Vision 2030 is attracting more visits, tourists, entrepreneurs, and pilgrims each year. This motivated our decision to secure this significant deal, which will create jobs, increase local content, and contribute to the national economy,” he added.

鈥淭he new additions of the A320neo family aircraft will play a vital role in contributing to Saudi Arabia精东影业 ambitious Vision 2030 plan,鈥� said听de Saint-Exup茅ry. 鈥淚t will enable Saudia Group精东影业 strategy to advance the Kingdom精东影业 aviation capabilities while enabling both airlines to benefit from the A320neo family精东影业 exceptional efficiency, superior economics, and the highest level of passenger comfort as well as lower fuel-burn and emissions.”

According to ch-aviation, Saudia already operates 59 Airbus A320 family aircraft. This comprises 37 A320-200s, 15 A321-200s, and seven A321-200neos. The carrier also had a further 14 A320neo and 15 A321neo XLR on order before this latest announcement. Flyadeal operates a current fleet of 11 A320-200s and 21 A321neos, with a further ten A320neos outstanding from an existing order placed in 2019.    

Saudi Arabia is in the process of broadening its ambitions for both commercial aviation and tourism through the Saudi National Tourism Strategy. This plan (鈥榁ision 2030鈥�) has set a target of attracting more than 150 million tourists to the Kingdom by 2030. According to the Saudia Group, this latest order with Airbus will play 鈥渁 significant role in strengthening the Kingdom精东影业 ambition of becoming one of the top global tourism destinations.鈥�

Through the Vision 2023 strategy, the aviation industry in the country is already soaring with ambitious plans for new airlines and airports in the coming years. Analysts forecast that the aviation sector精东影业 contribution to the economy is forecast to triple from where it was in 2018 ($21.3 billion) to $74.6 billion by 2030. The country will also welcome the arrival of its second major international airline in 2025 when newcomer Riyadh Air takes to the skies for the first time.

Wizz Air精东影业 Chief Commercial Officer talks about growth, new products: video

• Airlines

byMiquel Ros

2024-05-17

Days ahead of the which will take place in Riyadh May 20-22, 2024, the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) of Saudi Arabia has shared some details of its ambitious plans for the Kingdom精东影业 private aviation industry.听

GACA aims to increase the size of Saudi Arabia精东影业 executive aviation sector tenfold before the end of this decade, so that by 2030 it becomes a $2 billion industry.  

Since 2023, the Saudi aviation authority has started to implement a number of liberalizing measures to foster the growth of this segment of the industry.  

These include measures such as lifting restrictions on the commercialization of the so-called 鈥渆mpty legs鈥�, which allows operators to sell trips on repositioning executive aircraft that otherwise would have flown empty between two assignments, and a simplification of the economic license requirements for operators and investors in the sector. 

GACA expects aircraft owners, lessors, investors and other operators and companies servicing the executive aviation industry to participate in the further advancement of this industry in the Kingdom. 

Full details of the roadmap will be shared at the 2024 Future Aviation Forum. 

精东影业 partners with Saudi Arabia精东影业 Future Aviation Forum听

• Aviation Events
• Future Aviation Forum

byMiquel Ros

1 minute read

Hosted by the Saudi Arabian General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), the Future Aviation Forum aims to be the event of reference for the aviation industry in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its region. 

More than 5,000 business and government leaders, regulators and media representatives will gather at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center (KAICC) for three days packed with working sessions, panels and networking opportunities. 

It精东影业 expected that a number of announcements will be made during the Forum, which is supported by major industry players such as Boeing, Airbus, Embraer, COMAC, Saudia and Riyadh Air, among other companies representative of the growing Saudi aviation ecosystem.听

The Forum is an expression of Saudi Arabia精东影业 commitment to the future growth of the aviation industry in the Middle East. Major investments are currently underway within the framework of the Kingdom精东影业 Vision 2030 strategy to make the Kingdom one of the World精东影业 key air transportation nodes. 

精东影业 will be providing timely and comprehensive coverage of the 2024 Future Aviation Forum. Its team will be on the ground covering the news coming out of the event, as well as producing a stream of exclusive content from Riyadh.