Riyadh Air Commits to Purchase 28 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, Adds 787-10 to Future Fleet

Riyadh Air, the new national carrier of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Boeing announced that the airline is exercising options for 28 more 787 Dreamliner jets as part of its growth plan. The agreement to exercise most of the options from Riyadh Air's 2023 order also includes the conversion of 20 airplanes to the larger 787-10 variant.

Deal Overview
- Riyadh Air has committed to purchase 28 additional Boeing 787 Dreamliners.
- Of these, 20 will be converted to the larger 787-10 variant, adding capacity and efficiency.
- This builds on the airline’s 2023 order and includes a previously unidentified purchase of 11 aircraft.
- Once finalized, Riyadh Air’s firm order count will reach 67 Dreamliners.

Strategic Impact
- Riyadh Air currently operates six 787-9 jets serving six cities.
- The expanded fleet supports its plan to connect over 100 global destinations by 2030, aligning with Saudi Vision 2030.
- The airline expects to generate 200,000 direct and indirect jobs and contribute $20 billion (SAR 75 billion) to Saudi Arabia’s non-oil GDP growth.

Passenger Experience
- The 787 Dreamliner family offers:
- Larger windows
- Higher cabin humidity & lower altitude pressurization
- Advanced turbulence-sensing technology
- The 787-10 adds 50 more seats than the 787-9, while reducing fuel use and emissions by 25%.

Leadership Voices
- Tony Douglas, CEO of Riyadh Air: Called the expansion a milestone toward achieving the 2030 network goals.
- Stephanie Pope, CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes: Highlighted the 787-10 as a complement to Riyadh Air’s fleet, enhancing passenger experience and sustainability.

This move positions Riyadh Air as a key global player with one of the most modern and sustainable fleets, while reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s ambition to make Riyadh a major aviation hub.