Riyadh Air Set to Announce Major Fleet Expansion with Boeing & Airbus at Farnborough Show
Saudi Arabia’s rapidly expanding startup airline, Riyadh Air, is on the verge of announcing a significant fleet expansion deal. The announcement could come as early as next week at the esteemed Farnborough International Airshow in London.
As reported by Bloomberg, the state-owned carrier, which is supported by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund, is currently in active negotiations with both Airbus and Boeing. The objective is to secure additional widebody aircraft. The discussions include options for approximately six Airbus A350-1000 jets and around 30 Boeing aircraft, which would significantly increase the scale of the airline’s already ambitious fleet plans.
Riyadh Air only commenced full commercial operations this month, with seven Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners in its fleet. The airline currently serves nine international cities, including Dubai and London. Established in 2023 as Saudi Arabia’s second national airline, Riyadh Air has set bold expansion targets. The aim is to serve more than 100 destinations by 2030, aligning with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 strategy to transform the country into a global travel and tourism hub.
The airline already has a substantial order book, including 60 Airbus A321neo aircraft and a prior firm agreement for 25 A350-1000 widebody jets signed at the Paris Air Show in June 2025. If confirmed at Farnborough, this new deal would represent another significant milestone in Saudi Arabia’s aviation ambitions.
Source: Investing.com / Bloomberg – Riyadh Air in Talks with Airbus and Boeing for Widebody Jets