RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Air expanded its widebody fleet plans by confirming orders for 34 additional Boeing and Airbus aircraft, reinforcing the state-backed carrier’s international growth strategy.
The Public Investment Fund-owned airline exercised options for 28 additional Boeing 787 Dreamliners, increasing its firm order for the type to 67 aircraft.
The agreement, announced at the Farnborough International Airshow, also includes the conversion of 20 aircraft to the larger 787-10 variant and a previously undisclosed purchase of 11 Dreamliners, according to a release.
Separately, Riyadh Air confirmed an order for six additional Airbus A350-1000 aircraft, increasing its total firm commitment for the type to 31 aircraft. The agreement forms part of the airline’s original commitment for up to 50 A350-1000s announced in 2025.
The orders align with the Kingdom’s National Aviation Strategy, which aims to triple annual passenger traffic to 330 million, increase air cargo capacity to 4.5 million tons, and expand connectivity to more than 250 destinations by 2030. The strategy is designed to position the Kingdom as a global aviation hub linking Asia, Europe and Africa.
Commenting on the Boeing announcement, Riyadh Air CEO Tony Douglas said: “The commitment to firm up an additional 28 787 Dreamliners and introduce the 787-10 marks another significant milestone in Riyadh Air’s journey toward over 100 international destinations by 2030, a key part of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 ambitions.”
He added: “The addition of the 787-10 strengthens our ability to accommodate growing passenger and cargo demand while providing the operational flexibility required to support our ambitious network plans.”
Airbus expansion
Riyadh Air now has firm Airbus orders for 91 aircraft, comprising 60 A321neos and 31 A350-1000s, while retaining purchase rights for another 19 A350 aircraft to support future expansion.
The carrier will become the first airline in Saudi Arabia to operate the A350-1000, deploying the aircraft to support its international expansion strategy.
The expansion supports Saudi Arabia’s economic diversification strategy, with Riyadh Air aiming to contribute more than SR75 billion ($20 billion) to the Kingdom’s non-oil gross domestic product and create over 200,000 direct and indirect jobs by 2030 as it expands its international network.
