Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia), the Kingdom’s national carrier, has added a new Airbus A320 aircraft to its fleet, which is currently witnessing the largest modernization and development program in its history.

The airline is expected to receive three more A320 aircraft between September and October.

The arrival of new aircraft supports Saudia’s operational plans by increasing flights and seat capacity on domestic flights and expanding the operation of the international sector through access to new destinations.

The airline expects to further boost its fleet with the addition of 20 A320neo aircraft from 2019.

Saudia started out in 1945 with a single twin-engine DC-3 (Dakota) HZ-AAX given to King Abdul Aziz as a gift by the U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt. This was followed months later with the purchase of two more DC-3s, and these formed the nucleus of what in few years later was to become one of the world's largest airlines.

Today, Saudia has 149 aircraft, including the latest and most advanced wide-bodied jets presently available: B787-9, B777-268L, B777-300ER, Airbus A320-200, Airbus A321, and Airbus A330-300.