Riyadh, June 29, 2026, SPA — 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.
Chief Guest Experience Officer at Saudia Rossen Dimitrov 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.”
Executive Vice President of Aviation at Neo Space Group Tarek El Mitwalli 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.