据米希尔·米什拉（Mihir Mishra）报道，沙特集团（Saudia Group）正在推进一项重要的飞机采购计划，该计划预计从2031年开始交付新飞机。沙特集团的一位高管表示，该集团计划购买大量飞机。
The Saudia Group, which includes national airline Saudia and low-cost carrier Flyadeal, is advancing with plans to make a “substantial” jet order for delivery starting in 2031, a group executive said.
沙特集团的战略执行副总裁兼Flyadeal的代理首席执行官桑吉夫·卡普尔（Sanjiv Kapoor）指出，这项采购计划必须获得董事会的批准后，集团才能正式开始与供应商进行谈判。他拒绝透露具体要购买多少架飞机，但表示其中一部分飞机将用于扩充机队，另一部分则用于替换老旧的航空器。
The proposed purchase needs to be approved by the board of directors before the group can start shopping, said Sanjiv Kapoor, executive vice president of strategy at Saudia Group and acting chief executive officer at Flyadeal. He declined to say how many planes the group wants to buy, though he said some are meant to expand the fleet while others will replace aging aircraft.
据彭博社（Bloomberg News）2月份报道，沙特集团已与波音公司（Boeing Co.）和空中客车公司（Airbus SE）展开初步谈判，计划购买至少150架窄体飞机和宽体飞机，这将是沙特集团有史以来规模最大的飞机采购项目。
Bloomberg News reported in February that Saudia was in early talks with Boeing Co. and Airbus SE to buy at least 150 narrowbody and widebody jets, which would be its largest purchase ever.
卡普尔在接受采访时表示：“我们目前已经完成了对未来飞机需求的评估，这些飞机既用于满足业务发展的需求，也用于长期替换老旧的机队。一旦获得董事会的批准，我们将正式启动招标流程。”他表示，这些飞机将同时供应给沙特航空（Saudia）和Flyadeal两家航空公司。
“We have now completed the assessment of the number of aircraft we will need for growth as well as to replace the older fleet in the longer term,” Kapoor said in an interview. “The RFP process will start once we have board approval for what will be a substantial order for the two airlines,” he said, referring to the tender process.
据卡普尔透露，这些飞机的交付时间定于2031年至2040年之间。“我们是一次性完成全部采购，还是分批进行，目前尚未确定。”目前，沙特集团的机队由196架飞机组成，其中149架属于沙特航空，47架属于Flyadeal。
The group is aiming for deliveries in 2031-2040, according to Kapoor. “Whether we order all in one go or in tranches remains to be seen.”The group now operates a 196-jet fleet from Airbus and Boeing, with 149 flying for Saudia and 47 for Flyadeal.
自1945年成立以来，沙特航空一直是沙特王国的国家航空公司，其运营在很大程度上依赖于前往该国的宗教朝圣活动。2023年，沙特阿拉伯成立了新的航空公司“利雅得航空”（Riyadh Air），该公司总部位于首都利雅得，主要专注于商务旅行服务。
Saudia has been the kingdom’s flag carrier since its founding in 1945, and operations rely heavily on the religious pilgrimage to the country. In 2023, Saudi Arabia launched Riyadh Air, which is headquartered in the capital and plans to focus more on business travel.
卡普尔表示：“让两家航空公司都努力向对方看齐是件好事。你们将拥有两家世界级的航空公司。”由于供应链问题导致飞机交付速度放缓，各航空公司正试图提前与制造商敲定长期飞机需求。印度最新的航空公司阿卡萨航空（Akasa Air）也已启动谈判，计划订购超过200架波音737 Max客机，交付时间将在2032年之后。
“It’s good to make both airlines try to be as good as the other,” Kapoor said. “You are going to have two world-class airlines.”Carriers are trying to finalize their long-term aircraft requirements with plenty of lead time for manufacturers due to supply chain issues that are crimping the pace of deliveries. India’s newest carrier, Akasa Air, also started discussions to order more than 200 Boeing 737 Max jets for deliveries beyond 2032.