Riyadh Air's Ambitious Growth
Riyadh Air Finalizes Major Widebody Fleet Expansion with 39 New Boeing Jets and Airbus A350s
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Key Points
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Riyadh Air's 2023 package reportedly included 39 firm 787-9s and 33 options; the Farnborough update exercises 28 options, converts 20 to the larger 787-10, and adds 11 new widebody jets, leaving 17 options to be finalized to reach a total of 67 firm 787s.
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In addition to the 28 newly firmed 787s, the deal includes six additional Airbus A350-1000s, bringing Riyadh Air's A350-1000 commitments to 31 overall, of which 25 were already locked in prior to Farnborough.
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The Farnborough showing is described by some outlets as Riyadh Air's first major order of the show, underscoring the Saudi carrier's accelerated widebody expansion during the event.
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Boeing stock reacted to the announcement with shares trading lower, around $214.03, reflecting market reactions to Riyadh Air's backlog and order activity.
Riyadh Air is making one of the biggest splashes at Farnborough 2026, announcing deals for 28 more Boeing 787 Dreamliners and six additional Airbus A350-1000 jets in a single day, according to Simple Flying. The move pushes the Saudi carrier's firm 787 order toward a total of 67 aircraft once the remaining options are locked in.
The announcement is part of Riyadh Air's plan to fly to more than 100 destinations by 2030, tying directly into Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 economic overhaul. The airline currently operates six 787-9s across six cities — but it is moving fast to change that.
28 More Dreamliners and a Bigger Jet Mix
Riyadh Air's original 2023 deal included 39 firm 787-9s and 33 options. At Farnborough, the airline exercised 28 of those options, according to Safari India. It also converted 20 of those 28 into the larger 787-10 variant, which can carry more passengers on the same routes.
The 787-10 is the longest version of the Dreamliner family. Using it alongside the 787-9 keeps the fleet simple — pilots and crews can work both planes. Seventeen options from the original deal still remain to be finalized, which would bring the firm 787 total to 67, Simple Flying reported.
Airbus A350-1000 Commitments Climb to 31 Total
Alongside the Boeing deal, Riyadh Air added six more Airbus A350-1000s to its order book. That brings its total A350-1000 commitments to 31, up from 25 before Farnborough, according to Simple Flying. The A350-1000 is a long-range widebody jet built for routes that stretch across continents.
The dual-supplier strategy — buying big from both Boeing and Airbus — gives Riyadh Air flexibility. It also signals that the airline is not betting everything on one manufacturer. Morningstar noted the purchases were announced formally at the Farnborough International Airshow.
Boeing Shares Dip Despite Major New Order
Despite the headline-grabbing order, Boeing's stock moved lower on the news. Shares traded around $214.03, according to GuruFocus. That reaction may reflect investor focus on Boeing's already massive backlog rather than excitement over new orders added to a long delivery queue.
Boeing has faced years of production challenges and delivery delays. A large new order adds revenue down the road but also adds pressure to a manufacturing system still working through backlogs. Markets appear to be weighing both sides of that equation.
Riyadh Air's Role in Saudi Arabia's Big Economic Bet
Riyadh Air launched in 2023, backed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund. The goal is to turn Riyadh into a major global aviation hub, according to Whalesbook. With just six 787-9s flying today, the airline still has a long runway ahead — but it is ordering jets at a rapid pace to get there.
Reaching 100-plus destinations by 2030 would require a fleet far larger than what the airline operates now. The Farnborough orders are a clear signal that Riyadh Air intends to scale aggressively. Saudi Vision 2030 aims to reduce the country's reliance on oil, and a thriving national airline is a key piece of that plan.
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