Saudia Cargo Adds 4 Boeing 777F, Expands Network

The cargo arm of Saudia is set to double the size of its dedicated Boeing 777F freighter fleet, adding four 777-200F aircraft that will take its total from four to eight jets once deliveries are complete. The move is part of a broader plan to strengthen the Kingdom's position as a global logistics hub.

The four freighters are being acquired through a purchase-and-leaseback arrangement with Dubai-based lessor Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE), which buys the aircraft and leases them back to the carrier. The first jet is scheduled for delivery in October 2026, with the remaining three arriving progressively through 2027 and the last joining the fleet in May 2027.

Each Boeing 777F offers a payload capacity of around 102 tonnes and a range of up to 9,200 kilometres, enabling long-haul intercontinental operations. The expanded fleet supports a network spanning four continents, improving connections between Saudi Arabia and key markets across Asia, Europe, Africa and beyond. The aim is to roughly double dedicated freighter capacity by around 2028, in line with رؤية السعودية 2030 and the National Transport and Logistics Strategy.

New Dhaka–Frankfurt route

As part of the network expansion, a new scheduled freighter service linking Dhaka in Bangladesh with Frankfurt in Germany begins on 14 August 2026, operating twice weekly. The route is designed to strengthen trade and logistics flows between Asian and European markets and to feed into the carrier's wider international network.

The additions come as competition in the Kingdom's air cargo sector grows, including with the cargo operations of Riyadh Air. In a related step, the carrier has entered an interline cargo agreement with Riyadh Cargo to improve connectivity and expand its international reach — a development expected to benefit exporters, importers and businesses across Saudi Arabia that rely on fast, reliable air freight.

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