Riyadh Air has committed to purchase 28 additional Boeing 787 Dreamliners, exercising most of the options included in its original 2023 order and introducing the larger 787-10 variant into its future fleet.
The agreement includes a previously undisclosed firm order for 11 aircraft, with the remaining 17 expected to be finalised later. Once completed, Riyadh Air’s firm order book will increase to 67 Boeing 787s.
As part of the deal, the Saudi carrier is converting 20 aircraft to the higher-capacity 787-10, which offers around 50 more seats than the 787-9 while reducing fuel consumption and emissions by 25% compared with the aircraft it replaces.
Riyadh Air, which has recently launched commercial operations, currently operates six Boeing 787-9s serving six destinations. By operating both the 787-9 and 787-10, the airline expects to benefit from fleet commonality through shared pilot training, maintenance and cockpit systems.
The expanded Dreamliner fleet will support Riyadh Air’s ambition to serve more than 100 international destinations by 2030, in line with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 strategy to position Riyadh as a major global aviation hub.