Riyadh Air, the new national carrier of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Boeing have announced that the airline is exercising options for 28 additional 787 Dreamliner jets as part of its growth plan. The agreement includes the conversion of 20 aircraft to the larger 787-10 variant.
The announcement also includes a previously unidentified purchase of 11 of the ultra-efficient widebody aircraft. Once the remaining 17 aircraft are finalized, Riyadh Air’s firm order count will increase to 67 787 Dreamliners.
Tony Douglas, CEO of Riyadh Air, said the commitment to firm up an additional 28 787 Dreamliners and introduce the 787-10 represents another milestone in the airline’s plans to serve more than 100 international destinations by 2030, supporting the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 ambitions.
Following the recent launch of full operations, Riyadh Air said passengers have responded positively to the experience onboard its current fleet of six Boeing 787 aircraft. The addition of the 787-10 will increase the airline’s ability to accommodate growing passenger and cargo demand while providing the operational flexibility required to support its network plans.
By operating both the 787-9 and 787-10, Riyadh Air will benefit from fleet commonality, including shared flight deck systems, maintenance procedures and pilot training. This will support operational efficiencies while maintaining a consistent premium passenger experience across its network.
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner family features large windows, higher cabin humidity, lower cabin altitude pressurization and advanced turbulence-sensing technology, all designed to enhance passenger comfort.
Stephanie Pope, President and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, said Boeing was pleased to see Riyadh Air operating its new 787 aircraft in commercial service and placing additional orders to support its future growth. She added that the 787-10 would complement Riyadh Air’s expanding fleet and support its passenger experience ambitions.
The expanded Boeing fleet will support Riyadh Air’s network growth and provide additional capacity to connect Riyadh, a G20 capital city, with 100 global destinations in support of Saudi Vision 2030.
As a wholly owned company of the Public Investment Fund (PIF), Riyadh Air is positioned as part of Saudi Arabia’s economic diversification strategy. The airline expects its global expansion to generate more than 200,000 direct and indirect jobs and contribute more than $20 billion (SAR 75 billion) to non-oil GDP growth by 2030.
