Riyadh Air, the national carrier of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, has announced that it has exercised options previously held for 28 additional Boeing 787 Dreamliners
The carrier has also firmed up orders for an additional Airbus A350-1000out of its previously held options for 25 of the type
The Boeing order, confirmed on the first day of the Farnborough International Airshow 2026 being held in the UK, will include the conversion of 20 options for the 787-9 to the larger787-10 variant,confirming the nascent carrier’s interest in the largest version of the Dreamliner fleet for the first time
Riyadh Air converts 787 options into the larger 787-10
The order sees the carrier converting a large proportion of the 33 options it placed for Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners back in March 2023, with five aircraft remaining to be firmed up. However, 20 of these options are being converted into the 787-10 version of the Dreamliner, introducing a mixed 787 fleet into Riyadh Air for the first time
Crucially, this latest announcement also includes a previously unidentified purchase of 11 of the ultra-efficient widebody jets
Once the remaining aircraft have all been delivered to Riyadh Air,the carrier’s firm commitment to the 787 programme will reach 67 airframes in total, all powered by GE Aerospace GEnx-1B turbofan engines
“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,” said Tony Douglas, CEO of Riyadh Air.
“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.”
Riyadh Air’s first 2 Boeing 787 Dreamliners finally arrive in Saudi ArabiaRiyadh Air’s first 2 Boeing 787 Dreamliners finally arrive in Saudi Arabia
Introducing the 787-10 brings commonality benefits
Commenting on the latest order from the Gulf carrier, Boeing said that by operating the 787-9 and 787-10 in combination, Riyadh Air would benefit from a range of fleet commonality benefits, including shared flight deck systems, maintenance procedures and pilot training
This commonality would help deliver “operational efficiencies while ensuring a consistent, premium guest experience across its network”, the carrier added.
“We are delighted to see Riyadh Air flying their new 787 aircraft in commercial service, and we are deeply honoured they are placing orders for additional 787 Dreamliner aircraft to support their future,” said Stephanie Pope, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes.
“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 addition of the 787-10 reflects Riyadh Air’s commitment to growing its fleet to meet expected demand in the coming years. The 787-10 will boost Riyadh Air’s overall capacity with 50 more seats than the 787-9, while reducing fuel use and emissions by 25% compared to the aircraft it will replace
Riyadh Air also converts Airbus A350-1000 options
In addition to its growing commitment to the Boeing 787 programme, Riyadh Air also announced at Farnborough 2026 that it had firmed up an order for six additional Airbus A350-1000 aircraft, increasing its total firm commitment for the type to 31 aircraft
According to an Airbus statement issued at Farnborough, the agreement forms part of the airline’s original commitment for up to 50 A350-1000s announced at the Paris Air Show in 2025
This included firm orders for 25 aircraft plus options on a further 25. All aircraft are to be powered by Rolls-Royce XWB-97 engines
“The firming up of these additional aircraft reflects Riyadh Air’s continued confidence in its growth trajectory and in the future of Saudi Arabia’s af Riyadh Air
“Increasing our A350-1000 commitment to 31 aircraft strengthens the foundation of our future network and supports our ambition to serve more than 100 global destinations by 2030 while delivering a premium guest experience.”
Riyadh Air will become the first airline in Saudi Arabia to operate the A350-1000 and will use the aircraft alongside a fleet consisting of Boeing 787s and 60 Airbus A321neo single-aisle aircraft to support its international growth ambitions and to pursue the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 objectives
These aim to bring millions of additional visitors to the Kingdom for both tourism and business annually and reduce the region’s reliance on oil wealth.
Lock in to AGN, the official media partner of FIA 2026, for all the latest news. Bookmark our page for rolling updates from the show.Lock in to AGN, the official media partner of FIA 2026, for all the latest news. Bookmark our page for rolling updates from the show.
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Air TransportFarnborough International AirshowAirbus A350-1000Boeing 787-10 DreamlinerBoeing 787-9 DreamlinerFarnboroughRiyadh AirSaudi Arabia
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