Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) took delivery of its first B777-F, HZ-AK71 (msn 60337), in Jeddah on 2 April, following a delivery flight from Everett. The carrier has four of the type on order from Boeing, with the remaining three due to be delivered by the end of December.

The move is in line with Saudi Arabian regulations set to outlaw the operation of aircraft older than 20 years of age. At present, Saudia’s freighter fleet consists of eleven B747-400(F)s (eight leased from Air Atlanta Icelandic and three sourced from myCargo Airlines) as well as two own B747-8(F)s.