Saudia Group has ordered four incremental B777-200F freighters from Boeing for its cargo subsidiary, with the first delivery due in the fourth quarter of 2026 and the remaining three scheduled across 2027. The flag carrier’s cargo division Saudia Cargo already operates four B777-200Fs; the new aircraft raise the in-house B777-200F fleet to eight units by the end of next year. Chief executive and managing director of Saudia Cargo Loay Mashabi called the deal “a strategic milestone” anchored to Saudi Vision 2030 and the Kingdom’s plan to become a global logistics hub.
The announcement, made at a signing ceremony in Jeddah on July 7, signals the first publicly disclosed step in a planned doubling of Saudia Cargo’s dedicated freighter fleet. Saudia Cargo’s BEYOND export programme, which targets Saudi-made goods flowing through the carrier’s network, sits alongside this expansion as another line in the same Vision 2030 push.
Saudia Adds Four B777-200Fs to a Cargo Fleet Already Mid-Growth
The agreement was signed at a July 7 ceremony in Jeddah by Saudia Group Vice President of Fleet Management Saleh Eid, Saudia Cargo chief executive Mashabi, and Boeing Saudi Arabia president Asaad AlJomoai. Saudia Group Director General Ibrahim Al-Omar attended the event, and Boeing Vice President of Commercial Sales and Marketing for the Middle East Omar Arekat joined for the manufacturer. Saudia’s four-aircraft B777-200F order details confirmed the timeline and the executive list, and noted that the carrier declined to say whether the four freighters will replace any of its wet-leased aircraft or be used for growth.
Delivery runs from Q4 2026 through 2027. The full current fleet composition, with the order layered on top:
| Operator | Aircraft | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Saudia Cargo | 4 × B777-200F | In service |
| Saudia Cargo | 4 × B777-200F | Q4 2026 through 2027 (ordered) |
| Air Atlanta Europe (wet-leased) | 2 × B747-400(BDSF) + 1 × B747-400FSCD | Long-term lease |
| ASL Airlines Ireland (wet-leased) | 2 × A330-300(P2F) | Long-term lease |
Mashabi Calls the Order the First Step in a Larger Growth Phase
Mashabi framed the deal in terms of national logistics ambition and a fleet that, in his telling, will need to be much larger than today’s. His statement after the signing ceremony called the order a strategic milestone in Saudia Cargo’s journey, anchored to a long-term vision that he said the carrier had initiated years ago to expand globally. The same statement named the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 in reinforcing the Kingdom’s position as a global logistics hub as a reason for the deal.
This announcement represents a strategic milestone in Saudia Cargo’s journey, reflecting a long-term vision we initiated years ago to enhance our capabilities and expand our global presence. The addition of four new freighters is the first step in this phase, reinforcing the value we deliver to our customers and partners, and supporting the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 in reinforcing the Kingdom’s position as a global logistics hub.
Mashabi added in a separate comment that “what we are announcing today is only the beginning of a new era of growth and expansion.” The four freighters tie into a publicly stated plan to double the carrier’s dedicated cargo fleet and to support the National Transport and Logistics Strategy, both named in coverage of the announcement.
Boeing’s 75-Year Cargo Partnership Gets a Re-Up
Boeing came away with the order, a public endorsement from the customer, and a partnership length it chose to mention in its own remarks. Arekat, the regional sales lead for Boeing Commercial Airplanes, tied the deal to the manufacturer’s standing in the Middle East cargo market and to a relationship that goes back further than most airline-manufacturer pairings in the region.
Saudia Cargo’s order for Boeing 777 Freighters is a testament to the airplane’s unmatched performance and versatility. The agreement strengthens our longstanding partnership with Saudia Group, which has spanned over 75 years, and we look forward to further supporting their cargo growth initiatives.
The new order sits alongside a separate 2022 commitment by Saudia to seven B777 converted freighters through Mammoth Freighters, with a conversion centre planned at Jeddah International under the airline’s MRO arm. Saudia’s 2022 Mammoth B777 conversion deal covers both B777-200LR and B777-300ER passenger-to-freighter conversions, with initial work staged out of Fort Worth Alliance. Together, the production build slots and the converted-feedstock pipeline give Boeing multiple lines of cargo revenue from the same customer.
The Two Wet-Lease Operators Now Waiting on an Answer
The four new B777-200Fs are not the only freighters flying for Saudia Cargo today. Air Atlanta Europe, based in Malta, wet-leases three B747-400 freighters to the carrier under a long-term deal dating back several years. ASL Airlines Ireland, under a similar contract concluded in 2025, provides two A330-300(P2F)s that entered service in February and April 2026. The arrival of those A330s only months ago means any decision to swap them out would land on equipment still in its early lease life.
ch-aviation has put the question directly to Saudia’s spokesperson on whether the order replaces the wet-lease fleet, and so far has not received a public answer. Mashabi’s statement is built around capacity expansion; the wet-lease contracts are not addressed in the same setting. Air Atlanta Europe and ASL Airlines Ireland have not commented publicly on their exposure to the new order.
The Cargo Network the New Freighters Will Enter
Saudia Cargo ended 2025 carrying cargo across a network the carrier now plans to expand. The new freighters, once operational, will widen reach across four continents according to the carrier.
- 90+ destinations served by Saudia Cargo in 2025
- 570,000+ tons of cargo moved in 2025 alone
- 1.15 million+ tonnes across 2024 and 2025 combined
- 90%+ on-time performance for the cargo operation
The first B777-200F lands in Q4 2026, just before the Hajj season peak; the remaining three join through 2027, a phasing that aligns with the doubling of the carrier’s dedicated freighter fleet.
The Replacement Question Left Hanging Over the Order
Saudia has not told the public whether the four new B777-200Fs are destined for growth or to phase out the wet-leased B747-400s and A330-300(P2F)s. Mashabi’s own framing leans toward expansion, with the freighters described as the first step in this phase and only the beginning of a new era, but the airline has not used those words to address the replacement question.
If the new freighters eventually replace the B747s, Air Atlanta Europe’s three-aircraft position into Saudia’s network shrinks. The carrier has flown into that network under long-term lease since at least 2022 and has not commented on the new order. The replacement read would also touch the two A330-300(P2F)s, which entered Saudia Cargo service in February and April 2026 and still carry multi-year lease tails.
Either way, the order shifts the public centre of gravity in Saudia Cargo from a leased-heavy mix toward an owned B777 backbone, with Boeing collecting the bulk of the new-build revenue. Saudi Arabia’s wider air-cargo ambition, including reports of a PIF-backed new cargo airline still at an early stage, would also sit on top of any future B777 pipeline decisions the carrier chooses to make.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Saudia order from Boeing?
Saudia Cargo ordered four B777-200F production freighters from Boeing. The aircraft bring the carrier’s in-house B777-200F count from four to eight once all four enter service.
When will the new freighters be delivered?
The first B777-200F is scheduled for delivery in the fourth quarter of 2026, with the remaining three staged throughout 2027.
Does the order replace Saudia Cargo’s existing cargo aircraft?
Saudia has not publicly stated whether the new freighters replace any of the airline’s existing aircraft. ch-aviation asked the airline’s spokesperson whether the four B777-200Fs will replace any of the wet-leased aircraft or be used for growth; the carrier has not answered that question on the record.
Who operates Saudia’s existing cargo flights?
Saudia Cargo operates four production B777-200Fs directly. The carrier also wet-leases two B747-400(BDSF)s and one B747-400FSCD from Air Atlanta Europe, and two A330-300(P2F)s from ASL Airlines Ireland, both under long-term agreements.
How does the order fit Saudi Vision 2030?
Mashabi tied the order to Vision 2030’s logistics-hub goal for the Kingdom and called the four freighters the first step in this phase of growth. Coverage of the announcement also linked the deal to the National Transport and Logistics Strategy and to a plan to double Saudia Cargo’s dedicated freighter fleet.
