Regulations and Government
SPA: Saudi Arabia Suffering from Dearth of Charter Aircraft
Saudia Private Aviation says that some 94 percent of its air charter orders are going “unsatisfied” due to lack of available aircraft.
Richard Koe, managing director of WINGX Advance and Fahad Ibrahim Alijarboa, CEO Saudia Private Aviation on stage during MEBAA Show 2022
Richard Koe, (left) managing director of WINGX Advance and Fahad Ibrahim Alijarboa, CEO Saudia Private Aviation speak during a panel discussion at MEBAA Show 2022. (Photo: David McIntosh)

“There's a shortage of charter aircraft in the [Saudi Arabian] market,” said Fahad Al Jarboa, CEO of Saudia Private Aviation (SPA), who was the second-day MEBAA Show keynote speaker. He described SPA's ambitions for growth, including plans to wet lease up to six business aircraft in the coming months to meet the burgeoning demand for domestic and international charter in Saudi Arabia. However, he told AIN, “Actually, the market is dry. It is very dry. We have 94 percent of charter orders going unsatisfied.”

SPA (Booth 1125) is awaiting the arrival of an Embraer Praetor 500 in the third quarter of next year and has an option on a second. He hinted that business jets of sizes varying up to Boeing BBJs would be on his target list to make air charter at the individual, rather than delegation level, more possible.

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