Saudia clarifies sale of former Boeing aircraft amid sanctions reports

This photo uploaded on Wikipedia on April 14, 2020, shows a Boeing 777-200 aircraft of Saudia. The airline has long replaced its old aircraft with newer models from Airbus and Boeing. (John Taggart / Wikimedia Commons)

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Updated 04 July 2026 04:37

Arab News

July 04, 2026 04:24

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s national carrier Saudia on Saturday moved to clarify reports circulating in the media and on social media regarding the transfer of Boeing 777-200 aircraft it previously owned to an airline that is subject to international sanctions.

In a statement posted on the social media platform X, the airline said the aircraft were sold on June 7, 2023, to a company registered outside Saudi Arabia and that the transaction was carried out in accordance with all applicable commercial and legal procedures.

“Since the completion of the sale, Saudia has had no operational or commercial relationship with the aircraft,” the airline said, without identifying the buyer or providing further details.

The statement came after reports and online posts linked the former Saudia aircraft to a sanctioned carrier, prompting the airline to publicly distance itself from any subsequent use or operation of the planes.

Saudia, formerly known as Saudi Arabian Airlines, was founded in September 1945 and is the Kingdom’s oldest airline. According to its website, the carrier currently operates a fleet of about 149 passenger aircraft.

Its fleet includes 95 Airbus jets from the A320, A321 and A330 families, as well as 54 Boeing aircraft comprising the 777 and 787 Dreamliner series.

Topics:SaudiaBoeing