Aviation News – Riyadh Air, the new national carrier of Saudi Arabia, has exercised options to purchase 28 additional Boeing 787 Dreamliners to accelerate its long-haul international expansion. The landmark agreement expands the airline’s firm order book to 67 widebody aircraft, marking a major milestone in building out the nation’s global aviation hub.
The deal stems from Riyadh Air’s original 2023 order agreement with Boeing [NYSE: BA] and incorporates a strategic pivot toward higher-capacity aircraft. As part of the transaction, the Saudi carrier converted 20 options to the larger 787-10 variant, introducing the largest member of the Dreamliner family to its future fleet for the first time.
The announcement also includes a previously undisclosed purchase of 11 ultra-efficient widebody jets, accelerating the airline’s fleet build-out. This expansion provides the necessary long-haul capacity to support the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 economic growth strategy, connecting the capital city of Riyadh to key global markets.
Operating a mixed widebody fleet of 787-9 and 787-10 aircraft offers significant operational synergies, enabling shared flight deck systems, identical maintenance protocols, and common pilot training. The larger 787-10 model adds approximately 50 more passenger seats per flight while cutting fuel consumption and carbon emissions by 25 percent compared to older aircraft.
Highlighting the importance of the expansion, Tony Douglas, Chief Executive Officer of Riyadh Air, stated: “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. 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.”
Looking ahead, this expanded fleet positions Riyadh Air to capture growing international travel demand and open strategic long-haul corridors across the globe. Industry observers and travelers should follow Riyadh Air’s upcoming route additions as the airline prepares to launch new intercontinental flights.
This landmark agreement strengthens the long-term industrial partnership between Saudi Arabia and Boeing as the airline aggressively scales its global reach. By standardizing long-haul operations around fuel-efficient Dreamliner technology, the carrier achieves substantial operating efficiencies while reducing its carbon footprint. Ultimately, these advanced widebody aircraft will propel Riyadh Air toward its goal of connecting the Saudi capital to more than 100 destinations worldwide by 2030.
