Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Air this week took delivery of its first two new, fully-owned Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners.
Boeing announced the deliveries early Friday after the aircraft touched down at King Khalid International Airport, Riyadh Air’s main hub.
The start-up carrier called the deliveries an important “milestone” on its path to launching full-scale commercial service.
Riyadh Air has ordered up to 72 787s, in addition to 60 Airbus A321neos and up to 50 A350-1000s.
“To see our very first custom-built 787 Dreamliner airplanes touch down in Riyadh is a historic moment for us, and a momentous day for Saudi aviation,” Riyadh Air CEO Tony Douglas said in a news release. “I couldn’t be more excited or more confident about the future and the legacy we are creating. Not only are we building an airline, we are opening a new gateway to the world from the heart of the kingdom.”
Riyadh Air is currently using a leased 787, nicknamed “Jamila,” to connect Riyadh and London, but so far those flights have been open only to airline staff and their families. That will change in July, when the route becomes fully public. One of the new 787s is expected to take over the service at that time.
Riyadh Air has said it wants to add 100 destinations by 2030, including Cairo and Jeddah.
Riyadh Air is owned entirely by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, known as the Public Investment Fund. It was formed three years ago as part of a broader effort by the Saudi government to diversify the country’s economy and increase tourism. It is the country’s second flag carrier, behind Jeddah-based Saudia.
