Officials have confirmed that Saudi Arabia’s flag carrier has turned to a cash-strapped German company to purchase electric jets for routes to new luxury resorts, including the holy city Mecca.
Saudia’s communications affairs manager Razan Sharker said that the aircraft from Munich-based Lilium would provide direct links along the Red Sea Coast and ferry Muslim pilgrims from Jeddah directly to Mecca which does not have a airport.
“Our strategy is to help bridge the locations and cities that don’t even have an airport, or that may be difficult to get to”
she told AFP at a logistics forum held in Riyadh.
She said that the plans include flying pilgrims from Mecca to the iconic Fairmont Makkah Clock Royal Tower Hotel, near Mecca’s Grand Mosque.
“We’re working on creating an helipad”, according to her.
Saudia announced its intention to buy 50 Lilium electric Vertical take-off and Landing (eVTOL), plus the option of purchasing 50 more, in July. The airline expects to begin taking delivery of its Lilium jets in 2026. These jets can seat four to six people and travel up to 175 kilometers (109 miles).
A statement at the time said that the Saudia order was the “largest reported firm order for eVTOL aircraft from an airline that intends to operate the aircraft”. It also added that it “signals substantial commitment to electric aircraft”.
Daniel Wiegand said that Lilium’s chief innovator, Daniel Wiegand, told AFP, that the aircraft are usually sold between USD 7 and USD 9 millions.
Wiegand added that Lilium also sought financing from private investors. Saudi Arabia wants to triple its annual aviation traffic by the end decade to 330 millions passengers as part of Crown prince Mohammed bin Salman’s “Vision 2030” agenda to transform the petroleum-based economy.
Saleh al-Jasser, the Transport Minister, told AFP that a new airport planned for Riyadh with a capacity of 120 million passengers a yea was “at core of the aviation strategies”. Officials have also spoken about a “massive extension” of the Jeddah Airport.
The ambitious plans have further fuelled scepticism about Saudi Arabia’s climate commitments, which include achieving zero carbon emissions by the year 2060.
