Airbus secures major order from AviLease at Paris Air Show

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Airbus secures major order from AviLease at Paris Air Show

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Edward O'Byrne Chief Executive Officer | AviLease

By Sky Industry News

Jun 20, 2025

The Paris Air Show 2025 commenced with a significant announcement from Airbus, which secured an order from Saudi Arabian lessor AviLease. The initial agreement includes 10 A350F freighters and 30 A320neo Family aircraft, with plans to expand the order to 22 freighters and 55 single-aisle jets. Deliveries are scheduled to start in 2030 and continue through 2033.

AviLease, launched in 2022 by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, aims to become a leading aircraft lessor in the Middle East and globally. This deal marks AviLease's first direct order with Airbus following a comprehensive evaluation process involving major airlines and Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA).

The widebody portion of the order aligns with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 strategy, aiming to enhance its position as a regional logistics hub. AviLease chose the A350F over Boeing's 777F after a detailed technical and economic review. According to Airbus, the A350F offers reduced fuel consumption, improved loading capacity, and increased range while meeting ICAO’s upcoming carbon emissions standards.

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Edward O’Byrne, CEO of AviLease, stated: “The addition of these latest generation aircraft enhances our ability to offer modern, fuel-efficient fleet solutions to our airline partners in Saudi Arabia and around the world.”

The narrowbody segment of AviLease’s order includes A320neo and A321neo aircraft but excludes A321XLRs. This move supports their strategy for a diverse and efficient portfolio. Engine selection for these narrowbody planes is yet to be finalized.

AviLease has chosen Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines for its A350F freighters, marking the first time such engines will operate on freighters in Saudi Arabia.

Despite industry-wide supply chain challenges, Airbus remains confident in meeting delivery schedules. Production of the A320neo Family is ramping up across multiple global assembly sites.

Since its establishment in 2022, AviLease has rapidly expanded its portfolio and presence in approximately 30 countries. Recently, it ordered 30 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft and raised $6 billion in external financing alongside shareholder equity. The acquisition of Standard Chartered’s aviation finance portfolio has accelerated AviLease's growth trajectory towards becoming a top-10 global leasing firm ahead of schedule.