Riyadh Air is holding talks with both Airbus and Boeing about purchasing widebody aircraft. The carrier has just begun its domestic and international operations and is seeking additional jets to meet its travel demand.
About Riyadh Air
The newly launched Riyadh Air is a Saudi flag carrier with its main hub at Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport (RUH). The carrier is scheduled to operate to a vast range of domestic and international destinations, covering six continents and over 100 locations. The carrier is wholly owned by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund (PIF).
On June 6, 2026, the airline launched its first routes, a preliminary route network linking RUH with many important destinations, namely:
- London Heathrow (LHR).
- Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD).
- Dubai International Airport (DXB).
- Jeddah Airport (JED).
- Cairo International Airport (CAI).
- Manchester Airport (MAN).
The airline has codeshare partnerships with many airlines, which are key players in the global and regional aviation industry, such as Saudia, Turkish Airlines, and Air France-KLM.
Talks With Airbus and Boeing
As of July 2026, the airline operates with seven aircraft, all of them Boeing 787-9s, able to carry 288 passengers. In 2023, the carrier ordered 60 A321neo, 25 A350-1000, and 39 B787-9, with the possibility for 33 more. However, it is still seeking to expand its fleet; hence, it is holding talks with Airbus and Boeing.
Besides the already ordered jets, the carrier is discussing with the companies to purchase more widebody aircraft. According to Bloomberg, Riyadh Air is finishing conversations with Airbus for the purchase of six A350-1000 aircraft and with Boeing for around 30 aircraft.
This new order would symbolise the carrier’s step up from a startup-sized route network to an international destination scale. Furthermore, according to Bloomberg, the airline is planning to announce the deal at the Farnborough International Airshow.
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