Days after its name was revealed, Riyadh Air, a new airline in Saudi Arabia, announced a pre-agreement with Boeing to acquire 39 787-9 Dreamliner jets, with an option for a further 33 aircraft.
The first planes are due to be delivered from 2025, although the agreement still needs to be confirmed. Riyadh Air belongs to the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia.
According to Boeing, the deal is the 5th largest commercial order in the company’s history, as it is connected to a total order of 121 planes, including 49 jets 787-9 and 787-10 announced by sister carrier Saudia also on Tuesday.
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“The new airline reflects the ambitious vision of Saudi Arabia to be at the core of shaping the future of global air travel and be a true disruptor in terms of customer experience,” said Tony Douglas, CEO of Riyadh Air.
“This is a significant order that will support Riyadh Air’s commitment to deliver a world-class travel experience, while supporting American aerospace manufacturing jobs at Boeing and across our supply chain,” said Stan Deal, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes.
The new airline’s hub will be in Riyadh, the Saudi capital, located west of Doha, Abu Dhabi and Dubai, the largest hubs in the region and where Qatar Airways, Etihad and Emirates Airline operate.
Riyadh Air intends to offer flights to 100 international destinations by 2030. The Saudi government intends to serve 330 million passengers by this date, with 100 million visitors annually.
