Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Air has signed its first-ever aircraft lease for a single Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
The airline announced a deal with AviLease on Monday that will bring a 787-9 into its fleet by the fourth quarter of this year.
“We are pleased to complete our first aircraft lease with AviLease as we continue building a young, fuel-efficient fleet ahead of our commercial launch,” Riyadh Air CFO Adam Boukadida said in a news release. “The Boeing 787 is a highly capable aircraft that will play an important role in delivering a world-class travel experience for our future guests. This agreement marks an important step in establishing Riyadh Air as a leading global airline.”
Riyadh Air, formed in 2023, is working toward the launch of full commercial service from its planned base at King Khalid International Airport near Riyadh. It will serve as the second flag carrier of the country, behind Jeddah-based Saudia.
Riyadh Air has ordered dozens of Dreamliners and Airbus A321s over the last two years. The carrier expects to serve about 100 destinations by 2030, but as of this month only two had been announced – Dubai and London.
The airline operated an inaugural flight between Riyadh and London Heathrow on Sunday. While technically a commercial flight, it carried only staff from Riyadh Air and the Public Investment Fund.
In an interview with CNBC this week, Riyadh Air CEO Tony Douglas said tickets will go on sale for the general public once the airline has taken delivery of its first three production aircraft.
