Riyadh Air Accelerates Global Ambitions with New Boeing and Airbus Deal
RIYADH — Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Air has exercised options for 28 additional Boeing 787 Dreamliners, increasing its firm order for the type to 67 aircraft, while also confirming an order for six more Airbus A350-1000s, the state-backed carrier announced at the Farnborough International Airshow.
The agreement includes the conversion of 20 aircraft to the larger 787-10 variant and a previously undisclosed purchase of 11 Dreamliners. The Airbus order brings Riyadh Air’s total firm commitments for the A350-1000 to 31 aircraft, part of its original plan for up to 50 announced in 2025.
The carrier now holds firm orders for 91 Airbus aircraft, comprising 60 A321neos and 31 A350-1000s, with purchase rights for another 19 A350s. Riyadh Air will become the first Saudi airline to operate the A350-1000.
CEO Tony Douglas said the expansion marks another milestone in the airline’s journey toward over 100 international destinations by 2030. The orders align with the Kingdom’s National Aviation Strategy, which aims to triple annual passenger traffic to 330 million and expand connectivity to more than 250 destinations.
Riyadh Air, owned by the Public Investment Fund, aims to contribute more than SR75 billion ($20 billion) to non-oil GDP and create over 200,000 jobs by 2030.
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