Flyadeal chief aims for widebody decision by year-end

Flyadeal CE Steven Greenway expects to make a decision by the end of the year on its plan to bring in widebodies, as the Saudi Arabian budget carrier continues to ponder a choice between operating new and used aircraft. The carrier, which flies Airbus A320 narrowbodies on scheduled routes, already has a growing wet-lease widebody operation focusing on religious traffic and some peak leisure routes. However, the airline is now looking to bring in its own long-haul aircraft. “Its a combination of things,” Greenway said of the widebody opportunity, updating on the status of the initiative on the sidelines of a UK Aviation Club event in London earlier in November. “We have high-volume routes, like Thailand for leisure. There will be selective regional [routes] where we really need some lift. And it is then really religious and labour traffic that we are focused on,” he explains. ”The over-arching economics is it’s high-volume, low-yield [routes]. That’s where it sits for us.” Greenway says the airline has been exploring new aircraft options – namely Boeing 787s or Airbus A330neos – as well as repurposing used 787s, options that are available because it is part of the Saudia Group.<br/>