Saudi Arabian carrier Riyadh Air has committed to purchasing an additional 28 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, expanding its long-haul fleet as it prepares to increase international services.
Announced at the Farnborough International Airshow, the agreement sees Riyadh Air exercise options from its original 2023 order while also introducing the larger Boeing 787-10 into its fleet for the first time.
The commitment includes a previously undisclosed purchase of 11 Boeing 787 aircraft. Once the remaining 17 aircraft are finalised, Riyadh Air’s firm order book will increase to 67 Boeing 787 Dreamliners.
The airline has already taken delivery of six Boeing 787-9 aircraft and currently operates flights to six destinations.
Under the latest agreement, 20 of the aircraft will be converted to the higher-capacity Boeing 787-10 variant. The aircraft offers additional seating capacity while maintaining common flight deck systems, maintenance procedures and pilot training with the 787-9, allowing the airline to operate both variants within a common fleet.
Tony Douglas, CEO of Riyadh Air, 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 towards over 100 international destinations by 2030, a key part of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 ambitions.
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.
The Boeing 787-10 is the largest member of the Dreamliner family and provides around 50 more seats than the 787-9. According to Boeing, it also reduces fuel consumption and carbon emissions by approximately 25% compared with the aircraft it is designed to replace.
Stephanie Pope, President and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, said:We are delighted to see Riyadh Air flying their new 787 airplanes in commercial service and we are deeply honored they are placing orders for additional 787 Dreamliner aircraft to support their future. The 787-10 will be a great complement to Riyadh Air's growing fleet and advance the airline's mission to be a world-class airline that delivers an exceptional passenger experience.
“The 787-10 will be a great complement to Riyadh Air’s growing fleet and advance the airline’s mission to deliver a consistent passenger experience across its expanding network.”
The expanded order forms part of Riyadh Air’s plans to serve more than 100 destinations worldwide by 2030, supporting Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 programme to increase international connectivity and diversify the country’s economy beyond the oil sector.
Owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), Riyadh Air has stated that it expects its operations to contribute more than 20 billion USD (75 billion SAR) to non-oil GDP and support the creation of more than 200,000 direct and indirect jobs by the end of the decade.
