Boeing handed over the first two 787-9 Dreamliners to Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Air on June 5, 2026. It was a pivotal moment for the Public Investment Fund-backed startup airline — one that cleared the path for commercial flights to begin on the carrier’s flagship Riyadh–London Heathrow route on July 1, 2026.
The two aircraft, registered HZ-RXAA and HZ-RXAB, left Boeing’s production facilities in Charleston, South Carolina, and Everett, Washington, on June 3. They arrived together at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh two days later. The deliveries represent the opening shipment of Riyadh Air’s order for up to 72 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners — 39 confirmed aircraft plus options for 33 additional widebody jets. The deal is valued at multiple billions of dollars and ranks among the largest commercial orders in Boeing’s history.
“To see our very first custom-built 787 Dreamliner airplanes touch down in Riyadh is a historic moment for us, and a momentous day for Saudi aviation,” Tony Douglas, Chief Executive Officer of Riyadh Air, said. “Not only are we building an airline, we are opening a new gateway to the world from the heart of the Kingdom. We are absolutely ready and excited to welcome the world to Riyadh.”
Stephanie Pope, President and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, echoed the sentiment. “Riyadh Air is bringing to life a vision of modern world-class travel, and we are delighted to support them as they open new possibilities for the Kingdom and the world. The 787 Dreamliner gives Riyadh Air unmatched efficiency, flexibility across routes and a beautiful interior that will deliver a phenomenal travel experience.”
Fleet Configuration and Cabin Layout
The two delivered 787-9s come configured in four classes with 290 total seats. Business Elite offers four suites with 78-inch fully flat beds and 32-inch screens. Business has 24 seats in a 1-2-1 configuration, also with 78-inch flat beds. Premium Economy provides 39 seats in a 2-3-2 layout. Economy rounds out the cabin with 223 seats in a 3-3-3 configuration. Every passenger gets power connectivity and seatback screens — Premium Economy and Economy feature 15.6-inch and 13.4-inch displays respectively. The Business Elite suites include sliding privacy doors, and center suites can convert into double beds.
GE Aerospace GEnx-1B engines power the aircraft. The engines come under a June 21, 2023 agreement covering 90 engines — including spares and a TrueChoice services contract — to support Riyadh Air’s 39-aircraft 787-9 firm order.
Pathway to Launch
Riyadh Air was established on March 12, 2023 under the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 program. The carrier received its Passenger Air Transport Economic License from Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) on June 14, 2023 and flight operations approval on April 6, 2025. Before taking delivery of its own aircraft, Riyadh Air received a leased 787-9 (HZ-RXX, nicknamed “Jamila”) from Oman Air on January 15, 2025 for crew training and non-public London service that began on October 26, 2025.
On May 19, 2026, the airline opened public sales for the Riyadh–London Heathrow route starting July 1, 2026. Tickets are available through its mobile app, website, and travel distribution partners. Riyadh Air has announced plans to connect to 100 destinations by 2030 as part of a broader Saudi aviation expansion targeting 330 million annual passengers.
Competitive and Strategic Context
Riyadh Air operates as Saudi Arabia’s second flag carrier and positions itself as a premium competitor to Emirates, Qatar Airways, and other Gulf carriers. The airline has secured codeshare and interline agreements with 10 carriers across SkyTeam and Star Alliance networks — Delta, Air France-KLM, Turkish Airlines, and Singapore Airlines among them. Industry analysis shows 13 of the airline’s 15 planned launch routes face direct competition. Only Madrid, Manchester, and Jakarta remain currently unserved from Riyadh.
The PIF has projected that Riyadh Air will contribute $20 billion to Saudi GDP growth and create more than 200,000 direct and indirect jobs. The airline has also partnered with FLYR as a native ONE Order network carrier, making it the first global airline to fully adopt that retailing standard.
Boeing expects additional 787-9 deliveries to pick up through 2026 and beyond as production rates climb. The aerospace manufacturer is still working through supply chain and manufacturing capacity challenges — issues that delayed Riyadh Air’s original 2025 launch date.
Stay in the loop
Get the latest aviation news updates delivered to your inbox.