In a major development for global commercial aviation, Saudi Arabia’s new national carrier, Riyadh Air (RX), has inked an agreement with American aerospace giant Boeing to exercise options for 28 additional B787 Dreamliner aircraft. Announced as part of the airline’s aggressive long-haul expansion strategy, this latest transaction converts a significant portion of options from Riyadh Air’s original 2023 order book and marks the official debut of the stretched Boeing B787-10 variant in the airline’s future fleet. The deal includes a previously undisclosed purchase of 11 widebody jets, and once the remaining 17 positions are fully finalized, Riyadh Air’s firm orders for the Dreamliner family will reach an impressive total of 67 aircraft.
The introduction of the larger Boeing B787-10 variant represents a strategic shift for the nascent Gulf carrier as it scales up capacity on high-density routes. Under the revised agreement, Riyadh Air will convert 20 of its aircraft options into the B787-10 model, operating them alongside its initial batch of B787-9 Dreamliners. The B787-10 is the largest member of Boeing’s Dreamliner lineup, offering approximately 50 additional seats compared to the B787-9 while cutting fuel consumption and carbon emissions by 25% relative to legacy aircraft. This added seating capacity and enhanced cargo space will prove critical as the airline prepares to serve over 100 international destinations by the end of the decade in line with the ambitious goals of Saudi Vision 2030.
By streamlining its long-haul operations around the Boeing B787 family, Riyadh Air will reap substantial operational and economic efficiencies across its network. Operating both the B787-9 and B787-10 variants allows the airline to maintain high fleet commonality, including shared flight deck electronics, standardized maintenance protocols, and unified pilot training programs. This shared architecture simplifies fleet management, lowers overhead costs, and gives dispatchers the flexibility to swap aircraft types seamlessly based on seasonal passenger demand. For travelers, the Dreamliner family brings exceptional onboard comfort features, including the largest cabin windows in commercial aviation, elevated cabin humidity, lower cabin altitude pressurization, and advanced turbulence-sensing technology designed to ensure a smoother ride.
Leadership at both Riyadh Air and Boeing highlighted that this fleet expansion comes at a pivotal moment, following the carrier’s recent milestone of launching full commercial operations. With guest feedback on its initial fleet of six Boeing B787 jets proving overwhelmingly positive, the addition of the B787-10 gives the airline the required scale and flexibility to support its burgeoning route map. Executive leadership at Boeing Commercial Airplanes echoed this enthusiasm, noting that the B787-10 will serve as a powerful complement to Riyadh Air’s growth, advancing its mission to deliver a world-class passenger experience across the globe.
Beyond its impact on commercial aviation schedules, Riyadh Air’s fleet growth serves as a cornerstone for Saudi Arabia’s broader economic diversification program. As a wholly owned entity of the Kingdom’s Public Investment Fund, the airline is tasked with positioning Riyadh, a key G20 capital, as a leading global aviation hub. Through its expanding international network, Riyadh Air is projected to generate over 200,000 direct and indirect jobs while contributing more than US$20 billion, equivalent to approximately SAR75 billion, to non-oil gross domestic product growth by 2030.