Riyadh Air, owned by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, has announced the signing of an agreement with Airbus to purchase 50 A350-1000 aircraft during the 55th edition of the Paris Air Show. The agreement includes a firm order for 25 aircraft, along with options to purchase 25 more.
The agreement was signed in the presence of a number of officials, including Yasir Al-Rumayyan, Governor of the Public Investment Fund and Chairman of Riyadh Air, and the airline's CEO, Tony Douglas, along with Airbus representatives, including Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, Executive Vice President of Sales, and Christian Scherer, CEO of Airbus Commercial Aircraft, according to a press release published on the Riyadh Air website.
The A350-1000 has a range of more than 16,000 km, allowing it to operate long-haul flights. Through this deal, the airline aims to support its future operational plans, which include serving more than 100 international destinations by 2030, in line with government directions to strengthen Riyadh's air connectivity and in preparation for hosting international events such as Expo 2030 and the 2034 FIFA World Cup.
The company's statement noted that the model will help expand seat capacity and improve operational efficiency while reducing the number of different aircraft types in the future fleet. With this deal, the number of aircraft ordered by Riyadh Air rises to 182, belonging to three main categories, as it prepares to begin official operations later in 2025.
The airline said it intends to operate these aircraft with cabin configurations that include First Class, Business Class and Premium Economy, in addition to Economy Class, as part of a plan to offer a new model of air transport services from the Saudi capital.
In this context, Riyadh Air Chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan noted that the agreement with Airbus is part of completing the infrastructure needed to connect Riyadh to a network of global destinations by the end of this decade.
For his part, Riyadh Air CEO Tony Douglas explained that the signing of this deal is a step in a series of preparations for launching flights, which include obtaining the Air Operator Certificate and unveiling cabin designs.
Christian Scherer, CEO of Airbus Commercial Aircraft, affirmed that the choice of this model reflects its alignment with the airline's requirements in terms of operational performance, noting that the aircraft is among the most efficient in its class in terms of fuel consumption and emissions.
To view the post on the Riyadh Air website, click here.
