Riyadh Air has exercised options for 28 additional Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, reinforcing its fleet expansion strategy as the Kingdom’s new national carrier.
The agreement includes the conversion of 20 aircraft to the
larger 787-10 variant and a previously undisclosed purchase of 11 Dreamliners.
Once the remaining 17 aircraft are finalised, Riyadh Air’s
firm order will increase to 67 Boeing 787s.
The airline will operate both the 787-9 and 787-10 models,
benefiting from shared cockpit systems, maintenance procedures and pilot
training to improve operational efficiency while delivering a consistent
premium passenger experience.
The 787-10 offers 50 more seats than the 787-9 and delivers a 25% reduction in fuel consumption and emissions compared with older aircraft.
"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."
“We are delighted to see Riyadh Air flying their new 787 airplanes 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 expanded fleet will support Riyadh Air’s goal of connecting Riyadh to 100 global destinations by 2030, in line with Saudi Vision 2030, while contributing to economic diversification, creating over 200,000 jobs and adding more than $20 billion to Saudi Arabia’s non-oil GDP.-TradeArabia News Service