Saudi Arabia's new airline commits to 25 long-range Airbus A350-1000s
Paris: PIF-funded Saudi startup Riyadh Air announced a firm order for 25 Airbus A350-1000 aircraft on Monday, June 16. The agreement, which could potentially increase to 50 aircraft, was signed at the Paris Air Show.
According to an Airbus statement, this significant order marks a major step for Riyadh Air, making it the first airline in Saudi Arabia to operate the widebodies.
The deal also directly supports Saudi Arabia’s ambitious Vision 2030, which aims to attract 300 million air passengers annually by the decade's end and establish the Kingdom as a global aviation and tourism hub.
Riyadh Air is the second Saudi entity to place an order at the Paris Airshow this morning. Global aircraft lessor AviLease placed a significant new order with Airbus, covering 10 A350F freighters and 30 A320neo Family aircraft, possibly increasing the total to 22 freighters and 55 single-aisle jets.
The Riyadh Air signing ceremony was attended by officials including Yasir Al-Rumayyan, Governor of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), Christian Scherer, CEO Commercial Aircraft at Airbus, and Tony Douglas, CEO of Riyadh Air.
Adam Boukadida, Chief Financial Officer of Riyadh Air, stated, “This order marks a significant step forward in building a world-class airline that reflects the ambitions of Vision 2030. The A350-1000 will bring outstanding efficiency and comfort to our fleet, supporting our sustainability goals and enabling Riyadh Air to offer a premium experience while connecting Saudi Arabia to the world.”
The A350 sets new standards for intercontinental travel while offering the longest-range capability of any commercial airliner in production today.
Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, Airbus EVP Sales of the Commercial Aircraft business, emphasized the strategic partnership with Riyadh Air, noting that the A350-1000's efficiency, range, and passenger comfort make it an ideal choice to support the airline's growth plans and Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030.
In line with global sustainability efforts, the A350 aircraft can already operate with up to 50 per cent Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Airbus has set a target for all its aircraft to be 100 per cent SAF-capable by 2030.
As of the end of May 2025, the A350 Family has secured over 1,390 firm orders from more than 60 customers worldwide, with 657 aircraft currently in service on various routes globally.
Riyadh Air is scheduled to begin commercial passenger flights by the end of 2025. However, due to ongoing supply chain challenges, the airline has yet to secure a plane from manufacturers Boeing and Airbus.
Riyadh Air has been ordering planes from both manufacturers before its launch, including 60 narrow-body A321-family jets from Airbus in October and up to 72 Boeing 787 Dreamliners ordered in March 2023.
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