Saudi Arabia’s new airline Riyadh Water Company An additional 34 wide-body aircraft were ordered from Boeing and Airbus. The airline announced the news on Monday as it accelerates its expansion plans. The airline hopes to have flights to more than 100 destinations by 2030. The purchase of more aircraft is part of its plan to expand its global network.
Riyadh Airways will purchase an additional 28 Boeing 787 Dreamliners. The planes come from an option the airline already has in a 2023 deal, Reuters reported. Of the 28 Boeing aircraft, 20 will now be upgraded to the larger Boeing 787-10 model, rather than earlier versions.
Riyadh Airbus order
The airline also confirmed the purchase of six Airbus A350-1000 aircraft. These were previously just purchase rights but are now firm orders. After this transaction, the total number of Airbus A350-1000 orders confirmed by Riyadh Air has increased to 31. The aircraft deals are the first major orders announced at this year’s Farnborough International Air Show.
Riyadh Airways expansion plans
Riyadh Airways has launched a number of new routes since June and is currently expanding rapidly. The airline is working to establish Riyadh as a major international aviation hub. The airline hopes to compete with larger Middle Eastern airlines by expanding its international network. Riyadh Airways has taken delivery of six Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. Reuters reports that the airline currently has flights to six cities.
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Bloomberg provides the latest news, saying Riyadh Airways has now begun full operations this month with seven Boeing 787 aircraft in its fleet. The airline currently flies to nine cities, including Dubai and London. The airline is owned by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund. Riyadh Air is an important part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 plan, which aims to reduce the country’s dependence on oil and develop tourism, commerce and global connectivity.
Riyadh Airways fleet growth
The airline said it hopes to connect Riyadh to more than 100 destinations around the world by the end of the decade. Bloomberg says Riyadh Air has scheduled a major flight boeing company Orders for 39 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners in 2023, with options for an additional 33 aircraft. The airline has ordered more than 60 Airbus A321 narrow-body aircraft. Prior to Monday’s announcement, Riyadh Airways had confirmed the purchase of 25 Airbus A350 aircraft and held purchase rights for an additional 25 aircraft.
The airline had originally expected to begin operations in early 2025. But the airline’s launch has been delayed due to later-than-expected deliveries of Boeing planes and delays in certification by the Federal Aviation Administration, according to Bloomberg. Riyadh Airways plans to start adding Airbus A320 aircraft to its fleet later this year as it continues its expansion.
