Airbus has delivered the first A330-300 Regional variant to Saudi Arabian Airlines. This is the first of 20 A330-300 Regional aircraft ordered by Saudi at the 2015 Paris Airshow. These 20 will join the 12 A330-300s and 50 A320 Family aircraft Saudi already owns and operates.

The A330-300 Regional variant, announced back in September of 2013, is an A330-300 optimized for short to medium haul travel. While the standard models are optimized for up to 6,100 nautical miles, this variant is more optimized for trips around 2,700 nm. Airbus is offering significant cost savings by making the operational weight of the regional variant about 200 tonnes less. With around 400 passengers onboard for high-density routes, Airbus advertises that, “The reduction in fuel burn per seat and maintenance costs thanks to these innovations will result in an overall cost reduction by up to 20% compared with the today’s long-range A330-300 variants.”

Saudi Arabian Airlines chose the A330-300 Regional for use on high demand/density routes. This will give them more efficiencies while still giving passengers good comfort.

We are excited to welcome the first A330-300 Regional to our fast expanding Airbus fleet. It is a step forward in recognising our commitment to a family of aircraft which has contributed immensely to our market growth. 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.

– Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser Director General Saudi Arabian Airlines

The 20 airplanes Saudi Airlines will be receiving are actually leased through the International Air Finance Corporation (IAFC), a leading lessor in the Middle East.

IAFC has always been a pioneer in introducing innovative Islamic financing solutions to the aviation industry, positioning itself as a strategic partner with unique products and services. We are proud to partner with Saudi Arabian Airlines and Airbus and are confident that this deal will further reinforce the leading position of Saudi’s national airline.

– Moulay Omar Alaoui, President and Chief Executive Officer of IAFC