Saudia Group signs global agreement with Lilium

Saudia Group and Lilium, an electric aircraft manufacturer and pioneer in Regional Air Mobility (RAM), signed a binding sales agreement for 50 Lilium Jets, with options for purchasing 50 more. The signature ceremony was held at Lilium’s HQ in Munich. The contract was signed by Fahd Al-Jarbou, CEO of Saudia Private, representing Saudia Group, and Lilium's CEO Klaus Roewe, in the presence of guests including Engr Ibrahim Al-Omar, Director General of Saudia Group, Michael Kindsgrab, the German Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Lilium Chairman Tom Enders.

This sales agreement, which follows the Memorandum of Understanding between Saudia Group and Lilium signed in October 2022, marks the largest of its kind in the MENA region and represents an important industry milestone as the largest reported firm order of eVTOL aircraft by an airline that plans to operate the aircraft.

The agreement includes a schedule of deposit and pre-delivery payments, a timeline of future deliveries, guarantees on aircraft performance, and provisions on spare parts, maintenance, and repairs. In addition, the parties intend to sign a comprehensive “Lilium POWER ON” agreement for aircraft fleet maintenance and support services.

Omar, Director General of Saudia Group, commented at the signing event: “Saudia Group is proud to pioneer the MENA region as the first company to acquire all-electric eVTOL jets, which reflects our commitment to continuously reducing our carbon footprint and becoming an industry leader in regional electric aviation. We recognise the critical role that Lilium is positioned to play in enabling us to deliver a sustainable premium aviation experience and transport our guests even closer to their destination. This agreement amplifies our commitment to the Saudi Vision 2030 and is the result of a collaborative effort over the past years between Lilium and Saudia Group to explore how we can best bring eVTOL to the skies of Saudi Arabia. We are looking forward to the journey ahead.”  

“The eVTOL jets are revolutionizing guest transportation. Their unique vertical take-off and landing capabilities open up entirely new routes. Imagine travelling up to 175 km at speeds of 250 km per hour, saving valuable time compared to traditional options. This technology also tackles traffic congestion head-on. Business travellers and exhibition attendees will benefit tremendously from the ease and speed of electric aircraft, allowing them to seamlessly attend and participate in events. These innovative vehicles will also be a game-changer for tourism, sports, and entertainment, offering a premium travel experience for these exciting destinations," he added further.

Saudia Group's initiative to deploy advanced eVTOL jets aims to enhance connectivity within the Kingdom. These jets will offer seamless first and last-leg connections to regional hubs and new city routes, like Jeddah to Makkah, cutting regional travel times by up to 90%. This initiative will support Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages, provide faster access to events in Riyadh, and open up hard-to-reach tourist destinations. The eVTOL jets will increase flight frequencies and reduce traffic congestion.

Roewe, CEO of Lilium, said: “We are proud of our partnership with a market-leading airline such as Saudia. And we are thrilled to be pioneering progress in the eVTOL industry as the eVTOL manufacturer with the largest reported firm purchase order from an international airline that plans to operate the aircraft. The Middle East is a priority for Lilium, and Saudi Arabia will be a very large and exciting market for electric, high-speed regional air mobility. Our partnership will combine Saudia Group’s significant market knowledge with our unique eVTOL technology to transform premium class air travel in the GCC region.”

This purchase agreement with Saudia Group marks the latest addition to Lilium’s extensive order pipeline which consists of 106 firm orders and reservations, 76 options, and roughly 600 aircraft under MOU.