Neo Space Group (NSG), a strategic company within PIF’s Vision Portfolio and Saudi Arabia’s leading commercial space services provider, and Saudia, the Kingdom’s national flag carrier, today announced the first line-fit activation of NSG Skywaves® in-flight connectivity (IFC) aboard Saudia’s inaugural Airbus A321XLR aircraft.
The milestone marks a significant step in the growing strategic partnership between Saudia and NSG and demonstrates how Saudi Arabia’s aviation and space sectors are working together to support the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 ambitions. It reflects a shared commitment to innovation, digital transformation, and enhancing the guests experience, while further positioning Saudi Arabia among the world’s leading hubs for aviation and space-enabled services.
Powered by NSG Skywaves® and leveraging the SES Open Orbits™ multi-orbit network, the service combines GEO and MEO satellite capabilities to deliver resilient, low-latency connectivity across key international flight corridors. Recent operational testing conducted by NSG’s engineering and operations teams demonstrated onboard speeds up to 200 Mbps per aircraft, supporting a seamless digital experience across streaming, messaging, browsing, and other high-demand passenger applications.
The activation demonstrates the successful integration of the Airbus HBCplus line-fit solution and reflects close collaboration between NSG, Saudia, Airbus, SES, RAVE and other key industry partners to deliver a seamless connectivity experience from aircraft entry into service. It also reflects NSG’s growing maturity as a global in-flight connectivity provider, demonstrating its ability to integrate satellite capacity, airborne technologies, digital platforms, and operational expertise into a seamless end-to-end connectivity solution.
Mr. Rossen Dimitrov, Chief Guest Experience Officer at Saudia, said: “Connectivity is an essential part of modern travel, and providing high-speed internet on our new A321XLR is a key element of the new Saudia experience. It enables our guests to stay connected, remain entertained, and enjoy a more engaging and seamless onboard journey. It also enables a new generation of connected onboard experiences, allowing guests to enjoy live television and real-time content in ways that were previously not possible, bringing the journey closer than ever to the world beyond the aircraft.”
Tarek El Mitwalli, Executive Vice President of Aviation at Neo Space Group, commented: “This milestone reflects the convergence of aviation, space, and digital infrastructure. Activating NSG Skywaves® on Saudia’s inaugural Airbus A321XLR demonstrates how sovereign space capabilities can be translated into real-world operational services that enhance airline performance and passenger connectivity alike. Together with Saudia and our broader ecosystem of partners, we are helping shape a more connected, resilient, and digitally enabled future for aviation.”
The deployment builds on NSG’s broader aviation connectivity strategy, which is rapidly expanding across regional and international airline fleets through NSG Skywaves®, its next-generation IFC platform designed to support the evolving demands of connected aircraft and digital passenger experiences.
About NSG:
Neo Space Group (NSG) is a global space services company offering a broad portfolio across satellite communications, geospatial intelligence, and PNT (Positioning, Navigation and Timing), serving government and enterprise stakeholders across strategic sectors, including defense, aviation, and critical infrastructure.
As part of PIF, NSG is positioned as a strategic company for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia within its Vision Portfolio. In this role, NSG contributes to transforming the Saudi space economy, driving innovation and job creation, in line with Saudi Vision 2030.
About Saudia:
Saudia (Saudia Airlines) is the national flag carrier of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Established in 1945, the company has grown to become one of the Middle East’s largest airlines. Saudia has invested significantly in upgrading its aircraft and currently operates one of the youngest fleet with 149 aircraft. The airline serves an extensive global route network covering around 100 destinations across four continents, including all 26 domestic airports in Saudi Arabia. A member of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the Arab Air Carriers Organization (AACO), Saudia has also been a member airline in SkyTeam, the second largest alliance, since 2012.
Saudia was recently named “Best Airline Staff Service” for 2025 by Skytrax and ranked 17th in the global airline rankings. In addition, Saudia ranked first globally for on-time performance (OTP), according to Cirium. Saudia recognized at the APEX World Class 2026 Awards, receiving the “World Class Airline” title for the fifth consecutive year and the “Best in Class: Service–Guest Experience” award for the second consecutive year.
For more information on Saudia, please visit www.saudia.com
Featured image credited to Airbus
