Riyadh Airlines Plans to Purchase 25 to 30 Additional Boeing Aircraft

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Sources said that the fledgling carrier Riyadh Airlines is considering acquiring 25 to 30 additional Boeing 787 Dreamliners by exercising most of its contractual options with the US plane maker.

The potential deal underscores Saudi Arabia's ambitions to expand its aviation sector as part of the Vision 2030 economic diversification plan.

According to Reuters, Riyadh Airlines, which operated its first commercial flight last month, placed an order for up to 72 Boeing Dreamliners in 2023, comprising 39 firm orders and 33 options.

The sources indicated that an announcement about the Saudi carrier converting the majority of those options into firm purchases could be made at the Farnborough Airshow next week, but cautioned that the details are still being finalized.

This move would bolster Boeing's presence in the Middle East, where competition with Airbus remains intense. Riyadh Airlines, backed by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund, aims to compete with established Gulf carriers like Emirates and Qatar Airways. The Farnborough Airshow often serves as a platform for major aircraft order announcements, making it a likely venue for the deal's finalization.