Riyadh Air is said to be in negotiation with both Boeing and Airbus, as the airline eyes a further fleet expansion of 50 widebody aircraft, according to a report from Bloomberg.
Speaking at an Aviation Club luncheon in November 2024, Tony Douglas, CEO of the Saudi Arabian startup, confirmed that airline was seeking another widebody order, with an order announcement expected during 2025. No details into the size of the order were given at the time.
Douglas confirmed at the event that the airline was considering either A350-1000s or 777X jets.
A spokesperson for the airline confirmed it has launched a widebody request for proposal (RFP) in the market and is “currently an ongoing campaign”, maintaining the airline is “on track to start in 2025”. The spokesperson declined to confirm the number of aircraft in the RFP.
The airline had pushed back its launch of operations from mid-2025 to the third quarter after ongoing delays from Boeing of its 787-9 aircraft.
Riyadh Air has 39 787 widebody jets currently on order, with options for another 33 as part of a deal involving the national carrier, Saudia. The airline also has a firm order for 60 A321neo family aircraft placed, along with securing a $1.3bn credit boost.