Riyadh Air announced during the Farnborough International Airshow 2026 the exercise of purchase rights for 6 additional Airbus A350-1000 aircraft, raising its total firm orders for this model to 31, in a move that supports its plans to expand long-haul flights.

The new national carrier of the Kingdom, wholly owned by the Public Investment Fund, said these aircraft will form a key part of its long-haul fleet, enhancing its ability to connect Riyadh with major destinations in Asia, Europe, Oceania, and North America.

It added that its total orders from Airbus amount to 91 aircraft, including 60 A321s, while retaining purchase rights for 19 additional A350s to support its future plans.

Adam Boukadida, Chief Financial Officer of Riyadh Air, said the deal reflects the company's confidence in its long-term growth strategy, noting that the A350-1000 offers operational efficiency, greater range, and an advanced travel experience, supporting the carrier's international expansion.

For his part, Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, Executive Vice President of Commercial Aircraft Sales at Airbus, said Riyadh Air's decision to expand its orders for the model confirms its confidence in the aircraft's capabilities and operational efficiency.

The announcement comes after the launch of the carrier's first scheduled commercial flights between Riyadh and London last June. Riyadh Air currently operates flights to six destinations including London, Cairo, Dubai, Jeddah, Malaga, and Madrid, and has opened bookings to Manchester, Dhaka, Kuala Lumpur, and Mumbai.

The carrier explained that the A350-1000 aircraft will help reduce fuel consumption and emissions by up to 25 percent compared to previous-generation wide-body aircraft, as part of its sustainability strategy.

Riyadh Air expects that the expansion of its operations will create more than 200,000 direct and indirect jobs, in addition to contributing over $20 billion (SAR 75 billion) to non-oil GDP by 2030.