Riyadh Air Orders Up to 50 Airbus A350-1000 Jets
Riyadh Air has signed a major agreement with Airbus to purchase up to 50 A350-1000 aircraft, reinforcing its ambitious plans to become a global aviation leader.
The deal, unveiled at the 55th Paris Airshow, includes 25 firm orders and purchase rights for an additional 25 aircraft.
The agreement was signed at a ceremony attended by top aviation and government leaders, including Yasir Al-Rumayyan, Governor of the Public Investment Fund (PIF) and Chairman of Riyadh Air, Riyadh Air CEO Tony Douglas, and Airbus Commercial Aircraft CEO Christian Scherer.
With an operational range of more than 16,000km, the Airbus A350-1000 will empower Riyadh Air to connect the Saudi capital with major cities worldwide, supporting its goal of flying to more than 100 global destinations by 2030.
The aircraft's range and capacity align perfectly with Saudi Arabia's plans to host global events including Riyadh Expo 2030 and the FIFA World Cup 2034.
Yasir Al-Rumayyan, PIF Governor and Chairman of Riyadh Air said: 'Our new national carrier is set to take to the skies in the near future, and as a fundamental element of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's infrastructure, will connect our capital city to over 100 international destinations around the globe by 2030.
'With its outstanding range, adding the Airbus A350-1000 to our fleet demonstrates the strategic contribution of Riyadh Air in positioning Saudi Arabia as a global aviation hub.'
Riyadh Air will begin operations in 2025 with a three-type aircraft fleet, of which the A350-1000 will serve as a cornerstone. With up to 182 aircraft now on order, the airline aims to offer best-in-class passenger experiences through innovative cabin design, stylish First-Class options, and state-of-the-art digital and entertainment systems.
Riyadh Air CEO Tony Douglas said: 'Riyadh Air is making significant progress as we move towards our first flight later this year and agreeing this deal for up to 50 Airbus A350-1000 aircraft is an important statement of intent.
'Already in 2025, we have received our AOC and unveiled our new cabin interiors and having now completed our initial three aircraft orders, we are in a position to fulfil our ambitious network goals.
'We play an important role in the evolution of the Saudi aviation ecosystem with the aim to create 200,000 direct and indirect jobs and contribute almost $20bn to the Kingdom's non-oil GDP.'
Christian Scherer, Chief Executive Officer Commercial Aircraft at Airbus, said: 'We are honoured to support Riyadh Air's bold vision with the A350-1000, the world's most modern and efficient widebody aircraft.
'This partnership reflects our shared commitment to innovation and decarbonization whilst connecting the vibrant Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the world! Riyadh Air's selection of the A350-1000 underscores the aircraft's unmatched capability to deliver premium passenger experience and operational excellence—perfectly aligned with the ambitions of Vision 2030.'
Backed by Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, PIF, Riyadh Air is a key driver of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 strategy to diversify its economy and elevate its global connectivity. The airline is expected to play a significant role in: Boosting international passenger and cargo traffic
Supporting the Saudi National Transport and Logistics Strategy
Enabling tourism by linking travellers with Saudi Arabia's cultural, historic, and natural sites
Positioning Riyadh as a global business and travel hub
With operations launching in late 2025, Riyadh Air is poised to become one of the most advanced carriers in the world, setting new standards in aviation experience, sustainability, and connectivity.
Also read: UAE Airline Flight Suspension Update: Etihad, Flydubai, Air Arabia and Emirates Travel Latest
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Gulf Insider
a day ago
- Gulf Insider
UAE's Dollar-Millionaires: Another 13,000 Join Resident Base In 2024, Says UBS
An additional 13,000 made it to the ranks of UAE's dollar millionaire resident base in 2024, according to the latest UBS 'Global wealth Report 2025', which is an increase of 5.8% from the year before. A good number of these newly created millionaire base in the UAE came about from re-locations, as has been the case for four years now. 'This year there has been some significant movement in the number of millionaires in many of parts of the world, both upwards and downwards,' according to the Swiss bank's findings. 'In 2024, Turkey stands out from the crowd thanks to an 8.4% increase in its number of dollar millionaires over 2023, equivalent to a boost of roughly 7,000 people in a single year. The UAE (had) a rise of 5.8% in millionaire numbers, thanks to approximately 13,000 new entrants in this category.' 'Having looked at long-term trends, we concluded that wealth is far from static.' In the UAE, that's been the case. Banking and property market sources talk about the multi-million dollar deals that have been shaping the UAE investment landscape. The property firm Knight Frank in a recent report points to the influx of Saudi, Indian, Chinese and UK high networth individuals committing sizable investments in the UAE. At some locations such as Jumeira Bay island, the deal sizes are getting bigger. There are an estimated 240,343 dollar-millionaires in the UAE with a combined $785 million. Saudi Arabia, according to UBS, has 339,029 dollar-millionaires, with a combined wealth holdings of $958.3 million. 'In an era marked by rapid economic shifts, increasing volatility and unprecedented market developments, understanding the trends and drivers of wealth creation is more crucial than ever,' said Robert Karofsky, co-President of UBS Global Wealth Management. In the UAE, around 62% of gross wealth is allocated to financial assets, and it's almost 58% in Saudi Arabia. Assets such as real estate as well as land make up about 48% of what the super-rich spend on in both the prime GCC markets. (Debt levels among these investors is close to 9% in the UAE and 'only 5.7% in Saudi Arabia, one of the lowest levels in our sample of 56 countries', according to UBS.) Niels Zilkens, Head Wealth Management Middle East at UBS Global Wealth Management, said: 'Saudi Arabia and the UAE are not only seeing rising millionaire numbers, but also meaningful gains in median wealth – especially in the UAE, where it rose over 23% since 2020. 'With a combined $122 billion in expected wealth transfers ahead, both markets are entering a pivotal phase of generational transition.'
Daily Tribune
2 days ago
- Daily Tribune
EGYPTAIR Expands Fleet with Order for Six Additional Airbus A350-900 Aircraft
TDT | Manama EGYPTAIR has announced a firm order for six more Airbus A350-900 aircraft during the Paris Air Show 2025, reinforcing its strategy to modernize its long-haul fleet and meet rising global travel demand. This new order brings the airline's total A350-900 commitment to 16 aircraft. Captain Ahmed Adel, Chairman and CEO of EGYPTAIR, said the move aligns with the carrier's growth plans and sustainability objectives: 'We are continuously working to modernise our fleet and deliver a more comfortable and optimised travel experience. This collaboration with Airbus builds on a long-standing relationship that spans decades. The A350 will support our network expansion over the next five years and contribute to Egypt's broader efforts to promote more sustainable air transport.' The A350-900, part of Airbus' newest widebody family, is renowned for its fuel efficiency and range. It can fly up to 9,700 nautical miles (18,000 km) non-stop while consuming 25% less fuel compared to previous-generation aircraft, translating to significantly lower CO₂ emissions. Each aircraft will feature Airbus' next-generation Airspace cabin with wide seats, high ceilings, and soothing ambient lighting designed for passenger comfort on long-haul journeys. Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, Executive Vice President Sales at Airbus, welcomed the deepening relationship: 'This is the second time EGYPTAIR has placed an order for the A350, and it reflects the value and confidence the airline places in the aircraft. We look forward to supporting EGYPTAIR's success, growth, and decarbonisation ambitions.' The A350 is currently the most advanced widebody aircraft in production. It is certified to fly with up to 50% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) today, and Airbus aims to make its entire fleet 100% SAF-compatible by 2030. As of May 2025, Airbus has received over 1,390 orders for the A350 family from 60 customers worldwide. This strategic move places EGYPTAIR among leading global carriers investing in next-generation aircraft to offer passengers a superior travel experience while advancing environmental sustainability.
Gulf Insider
2 days ago
- Gulf Insider
Emirates Unveils New-look Airbus A350 at Paris Airshow
Emirates has returned to the International Paris Airshow for the first time in over 15 years, unveiling its newly delivered Airbus A350 and reinforcing its long-standing strategic partnership with France's aviation sector. The A350, which is on display until 19 June, features Emirates' next-generation cabin design across all three classes, with fully upgraded interiors and inflight technologies. Visitors at the show can experience the airline's enhanced Business Class and Premium Economy cabins, as well as a redesigned and more spacious Economy Class, reflecting Emirates' ongoing commitment to innovation in passenger experience. Sir Tim Clark, President Emirates Airline, said: 'We're pleased to be at the Paris Airshow, showcasing the very best of air travel on one of the most important platforms in the aerospace exhibition calendar. 'Coming back to France's most important aerospace show demonstrates how committed Emirates is to supporting the country's aviation industry – not just through our day-to-day operations, but through ongoing investments across the entire aerospace supply chain.' Emirates currently serves France with 21 weekly flights to Paris, including three daily A380 services, alongside a daily A380 to Nice and a daily A350 to Lyon. Emirates remains the only international airline to operate an A380 to Nice Côte d'Azur Airport. Since its inception in 1985, Emirates has invested heavily in the French aviation sector, including: Investing more than €114bn ($130bn) in the purchase of 254 Airbus aircraft, including the A300, A310, A330, A340, A380, and A350 models Supported thousands of jobs across the French aerospace industry, with Emirates acting as a key customer for French manufacturers such as Airbus, Safran, Thales, and Michelin In 2023, the airline signed a series of major supply contracts with Safran worth over €1bn ($1.14bn), including a €896m ($1bn) agreement for next-generation seats to be installed across Emirates' new A350 fleet, Boeing 777X-9, and the existing 777-300ER aircraft It also invested €322m ($367.5m) in Thales' AVANT Up inflight entertainment system, which will debut on the A350 Beyond aircraft, Emirates contributes €189m ($215m) annually to the French economy through operational expenditure including fuel uplift, overflight charges, catering, landing and handling fees, and crew accommodation The A350 on display features 32 lie-flat Business Class seats in a 1-2-1 configuration, 21 Premium Economy seats, and 259 Economy Class seats. The aircraft offers a redesigned interior with more headroom, wider aisles, advanced cabin lighting, and faster Wi-Fi, as well as Emirates' latest generation of inflight entertainment systems delivering a cinematic viewing experience. By the end of 2025, the Emirates A350 is expected to serve 17 destinations globally. The airline has so far inducted seven A350s into its fleet, with 58 more scheduled for delivery in the coming years, as Emirates continues to modernise its long-haul fleet with fuel-efficient and passenger-focused aircraft. Also read: UAE Waives Visa Fines for Iranians
