Riyadh Air announces firm order for 6 Airbus A350-1000 aircraft
Riyadh Air
Airbus A350-1000 will help connect Riyadh to over 100 global destinations by 2030 and support its planned ultra-long-haul network.
Riyadh Air announced it will exercise purchase rights for an additional six Airbus A350-1000 aircraft. The agreement, announced at the Farnborough International Airshow 2026, drives the airline’s strategic expansion that brings the total Airbus A350-1000 confirmed fleet to 31 aircraft, significantly boosting its ultra-long-haul capacity. The airline also has 60 Airbus A321 aircraft on order, totalling 91 aircraft ordered with 19 options/purchase rights for the A350 aircraft still available to exercise, allowing greater future flexibility.
This announcement comes at a historic juncture for Riyadh Air, following its inaugural commercial flight from Riyadh (RUH) to London Heathrow (LHR) on June 10, 2026, utilising its brand-new, custom-built fleet. By exercising these widebody purchase rights, the carrier cements its commitment to building a modern, highly efficient fleet capable of connecting the Kingdom to over 100 global destinations across Asia, Oceania, Africa, Europe, and the Americas by 2030.
Already operating flights to six destinations including London, Cairo, Dubai, Jeddah, Malaga and Madrid, Riyadh Air has also opened ticket sales for flights six additional cities from Riyadh - Dhaka, Islamabad, Kuala Lumpur, Lahore, Manchester and Mumbai with many more to be revealed in the coming weeks and months.
Adam Boukadida, CFO of Riyadh Air, said, “Following the historic take-off of our first commercial flights last month, confirming these purchase rights for six additional Airbus A350-1000 aircraft is a powerful statement of our growth and long-term ambition. With no legacy systems to hold us back, we are building an airline of the future from the ground up. The A350-1000 is an exceptional aircraft that perfectly aligns with our commitment to operational precision, passenger comfort, and thoughtful sustainability. It will allow us to showcase authentic Saudi hospitality – Hafawa – on a truly global scale.”
“This additional A350-1000 commitment reflects the airline's confidence in the aircraft's exceptional efficiency, range and passenger appeal. As Riyadh Air advances its ambitious growth plans, the A350-1000 will play an important role in supporting Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 objectives and helping position the Kingdom as a leading international aviation hub,” added Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, Airbus EVP Sales of the Commercial Aircraft business.
By expanding its global reach, the airline expects to generate over 200,000 direct and indirect jobs and contribute over USD 20 billion (SAR 75 billion) to non-oil GDP growth by 2030.
