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Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) finalized an agreement with German company Lilium Air Mobility to purchase 100 eVTOL aircrafts, according to a statement published last week. This transaction includes 50 confirmed orders and 50 optional ones, with the first deliveries expected in 4Q 2026. No financial details were disclosed.
The details: The agreement covers a “schedule of deposit and pre-delivery payments, delivery timelines, aircraft performance guarantees, and provisions on spare parts, maintenance, and repair,” the statement adds. Saudia will help Lilium get certified by Saudi’s General Authority of Civil Aviation before they can start commercial flights.
What will the jets be used for? Saudia Group plans to deploy the jets for seamless connections to regional hubs and new point-to-point city routes serving business travelers, tourists, and pilgrims. The firm plans to include a link between Jeddah to Makkah. The aircraft will significantly reduce carbon emissions by 10 mn tons annually and cut travel time by up to 90%.
About the jets: The six-passenger vehicle has a cruise speed of up to 250 kms per hour and a range of 175 kms, the statement said, adding that it’s expected to reduce regional travel times by up to 90%. The maximum takeoff weight is around 3.2k kgs with a cruising altitude of 3k meters, according to Electric VTOL News.
A maintenance agreement will follow: Saudia is scheduled to sign an agreement with Lilium’s customer service organization Lilium POWER-ON for aircraft fleet maintenance and other support services. The service unit offers training services, maintenance operations, material and battery management and global distribution, flight operations support, ground service equipment, and digital solutions, according to its website.
