Riyadh Air Commits to 28 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, 6 Airbus A350-1000

Riyadh Air has committed to purchasing 28 Boeing 787 Dreamliners and six Airbus A350-1000s, the manufacturers confirmed on Monday. The agreements move the Saudi carrier past the exploratory phase reported earlier this week and locks in one of the most significant widebody orders of the year.

The Boeing commitment includes 25 firm orders and options for three additional aircraft, according to Boeing. It builds on Riyadh Air's existing Dreamliner backlog and marks the airline's first order for the 787-10, the largest member of the Dreamliner family.

Commitment

AeroTime reported three days ago that Riyadh Air was weighing a firm order for between 25 and 30 additional 787s, citing discussions between the airline and Boeing. That deliberation has now translated into a signed commitment, with Boeing announcing the deal through its media room on July 20.

The new order stacks on top of the 39 787-9 Dreamliners Riyadh Air previously committed to, a figure that included firm aircraft and options announced in earlier agreements. With the latest deal, the carrier's Dreamliner commitments now exceed 60 aircraft, positioning the airline as one of the largest 787 customers globally.

"The commitment to firm up an additional 28 787 Dreamliners and introduce the 787-10 marks another significant milestone in Riyadh Air's journey towards over 100 international destinations by 2030, a key part of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 ambitions," said Tony Douglas, CEO of Riyadh Air. "Following the recent launch of full operations, guests have been hugely impressed with the Riyadh Air experience onboard our current fleet of six Boeing 787 jets. 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." 

Why the 787-10 Matters

Adding the 787-10 gives Riyadh Air a stretched widebody capable of carrying more passengers on medium- and long-haul routes. The variant seats roughly 330 passengers in a standard two-class configuration and offers a range of about 6,330 nautical miles, according to Boeing specifications. That range covers most routes from Riyadh to destinations across Europe, Africa, South Asia, and East Asia, though it falls short of ultra-long-haul missions to the US West Coast or South America.

The 787-9, which anchors Riyadh Air's initial fleet plan, offers longer range with a smaller passenger count. Operating both variants gives the carrier flexibility to match capacity with route demand, a strategy used by other major Dreamliner operators including United Airlines and Singapore Airlines.

Fleet Strategy Tied to National Goals

Riyadh Air, wholly owned by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, was launched in March 2023 as part of the kingdom's Vision 2030 program. The airline plans to connect Riyadh to more than 100 destinations by 2030, and its widebody fleet is central to that ambition.

The recently-launched airline now boasts a network spanning 11 destinations, including London-Heathrow and a recently-launched year-round service to Madrid.

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Boeing Gains Momentum on the 787 Line

For Boeing, the Riyadh Air commitment adds to a growing backlog for the 787 program, which has recovered from earlier production and quality issues. The manufacturer has been working to increase 787 output at its North Charleston facility, targeting a production rate of 10 aircraft per month by 2026.

Middle Eastern carriers have driven a substantial share of recent widebody orders. Emirates, Etihad, Qatar Airways, and now Riyadh Air have all committed to significant Boeing or Airbus widebody purchases over the past two years, reflecting the region's push to consolidate its position as a global connecting hub.

Boeing's announcement did not specify the engine choice for the newly ordered aircraft. The 787 is offered with either GE Aerospace GEnx or Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines. Riyadh Air's earlier 787-9 order selected the GEnx, and industry observers expect the carrier to maintain fleet commonality with the same powerplant on the 787-10, though that has not been confirmed.

Cabin configuration details for the new aircraft have also not been released. Riyadh Air has previously emphasized premium cabin design as a differentiator, and its 787-9s are expected to feature updated business class suites when they enter service.

Airbus A350 Order

Alongside its Boeing commitments, Riyadh Air has also placed an order today for six additional Airbus A350-1000. This brings the airline's total firm order commitment for the type to 31 aircraft.

"The firm-up of these additional aircraft reflects Riyadh Air's continued confidence in its growth trajectory and in the future of Saudi Arabia's aviation sector," said Adam Boukadida, Chief Financial Officer of Riyadh Air. "Increasing our A350-1000 commitment to 31 aircraft strengthens the foundation of our future network and supports our ambition to serve more than 100 global destinations by 2030 while delivering a premium guest experience."

Delivery Timeline

Neither Boeing nor Airbus have published delivery schedules for the newly committed aircraft. Given current 787 production rates and the manufacturer's existing backlog, first deliveries of the 787-10s to Riyadh Air are likely to fall in the late 2020s, industry analysts suggest. The 787-9 deliveries from the earlier order have already begun, and support the airline's initial network buildup.

For airline executives and suppliers watching the Middle East market, the deals signal continued investment in long-haul capacity by Saudi Arabia's flagship startup.