Riyadh Air orders 28 more Boeing 787s, adds 787-10 variant to fleet

Riyadh Air has committed to purchasing 28 additional Boeing 787 Dreamliners, including the larger 787-10 variant, as it accelerates plans to serve more than 100 global destinations by 2030.

The agreement, announced on 20 July 2026, sees the Saudi carrier exercise options that formed part of its original 2023 order. As part of the deal, Riyadh Air will convert 20 of those options into the 787-10, which offers around 50 more seats than the 787-9 while reducing fuel consumption and emissions by 25 percent compared with the aircraft it replaces.

The announcement also revealed a previously undisclosed purchase of 11 Dreamliner aircraft. Once the remaining 17 aircraft are finalised, Riyadh Air's firm order book will rise to 67 Boeing 787 Dreamliners.

Tony Douglas, Chief Executive Officer of Riyadh Air, described the commitment as another important milestone in the airline's journey towards serving more than 100 international destinations by the end of the decade, supporting Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 objectives. He said passengers had responded positively to the onboard experience offered by the airline's existing fleet of six Boeing 787 aircraft since the launch of full operations.

The addition of the 787-10 will strengthen the airline's ability to accommodate growing passenger numbers and cargo volumes while providing operational flexibility, according to Douglas.

Operating both the 787-9 and 787-10 will allow Riyadh Air to benefit from extensive fleet commonality, including shared flight deck systems, maintenance procedures and pilot training, helping improve operational efficiency while maintaining a consistent premium experience.

Stephanie Pope, President and Chief Executive Officer of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, said Boeing was delighted to see Riyadh Air's new 787 aircraft already operating in commercial service and honoured that the airline had chosen to expand its Dreamliner fleet. She added that the 787-10 would complement the airline's growing fleet while supporting its ambition of becoming a world-class carrier.

Wholly owned by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), Riyadh Air is positioned as a key driver of the Kingdom's economic diversification strategy. By expanding its international network, the airline expects to generate more than 200,000 direct and indirect jobs and contribute over $20 billion (SAR 75 billion) to Saudi Arabia's non-oil GDP by 2030.

Why it matters

The order signals Riyadh Air's continued confidence in the widebody market and its commitment to a single-family fleet strategy, which reduces complexity and costs. The shift to the larger 787-10 suggests the airline is preparing for higher-density routes as it expands beyond its initial six-city network. With a firm order book of 67 Dreamliners, Riyadh Air is positioning itself as a major long-haul player in the Middle East, directly competing with established Gulf carriers. The fleet expansion also supports Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 goals of boosting tourism and non-oil GDP, with the airline expected to be a key contributor to job creation and economic diversification.