Latest news with #RiyadhAir
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Why Airbus's huge deal with Saudi Arabia's new airline is a major win for the A350
Riyadh Air ordered 25 A350-1000s at the Paris Air Show, worth over $4 billion at list prices. Emirates criticized the type's engines, and Qatar Airways temporarily grounded its A350s. It's a big win for Airbus, as Saudi Arabia's new airline could have used Boeing's 777X instead. Airbus's enormous A350-1000 plane has attracted a lot of attention at this week's Paris Air Show. The star passenger jet of the flying display, many people stopped in their tracks to watch it twist and turn above Le Bourget Airport, while a Johann Strauss waltz played over the show's loudspeakers. But for Airbus, the real victory was Monday's order from Riyadh Air. Saudi Arabia's ambitious new airline ordered 25 A350-1000s, with options for up to 25 more. The prices weren't disclosed, but according to Ishka, an aviation data and advisory firm, one of these planes delivered this year would be worth around $172 million. That would make the deal worth over $4 billion, although planemakers typically give discounts for big deals with airlines. These enormous jets will play a vital role as Riyadh Air seeks to help turn the Saudi capital into a top tourist destination — a key part of the kingdom's Vision 2030 plan to diversify its economy. Riyadh Air, set to start flying later this year, is expected to operate a hub-and-spoke route model — connecting destinations around the world via its home base. This requires owning large-capacity planes for the most popular routes. Emirates operates similarly, hence its big bet on the double-decker Airbus A380. Riyadh Air kicked off its program with an order for up to 72 Boeing 787 jets, but tapped Airbus for its first narrow-body order of 60 A321neos. Riyadh Air CEO Tony Douglas previously told Business Insider its extra-wide-body planes would "almost certainly" include a first-class cabin, unlike the 787s. The A350-1000 can carry up to 410 passengers in a typical three-class layout and has a range of over 9,000 miles. It competes with Boeing's 777X, which has a wider fuselage and more modern technologies, but has been hampered by delays. While Boeing showed the plane at the last Paris Air Show in 2023, it wasn't displayed at Farnborough last year during the planemaker's safety crisis, nor this year due to ongoing flight tests. It was initially supposed to launch in 2020, but has since been postponed until 2026 as it awaits certification. However, the A350-1000 has also faced some challenges. It has a checkered history with Middle Eastern carriers, primarily due to issues from the hot and sandy climate in the region. This made headlines at the 2023 Dubai Air Show after Emirates boss Tim Clark slammed the plane's Rolls-Royce engines. In harsher environments, the engines require more frequent maintenance. Emirates instead placed a smaller order for the A350-900, which uses a different type of Rolls-Royce engine. Meanwhile, it is Boeing's biggest customer for the 777X, responsible for nearly half its 551 orders. Rolls-Royce has invested over $1 billion to improve the durability of its Trent engine family, which its president of civil aerospace referenced in its Riyadh Air announcement. Qatar Airways has also been unhappy with the A350 in the past, temporarily grounding its fleet. The type's launch customer sued Airbus in 2021, alleging that safety was compromised because cracked paint exposed the copper mesh, which protects the plane from lightning strikes. Airbus said the problem was only cosmetic and filed a countersuit before the dispute was settled in 2023. Now with a sizable order from Riyadh Air, it's clear the A350's reputation is improving with a new lease of life. Read the original article on Business Insider Sign in to access your portfolio
Business Insider
6 hours ago
- Business
- Business Insider
Why Airbus's huge deal with Saudi Arabia's new airline is a major win for the A350
Airbus's enormous A350-1000 plane has attracted a lot of attention at this week's Paris Air Show. The star passenger jet of the flying display, many people stopped in their tracks to watch it twist and turn above Le Bourget Airport, while a Johann Strauss waltz played over the show's loudspeakers. But for Airbus, the real victory was Monday's order from Riyadh Air. Saudi Arabia's ambitious new airline ordered 25 A350-1000 s, with options for up to 25 more. The prices weren't disclosed, but according to Ishka, an aviation data and advisory firm, one of these planes delivered this year would be worth around $172 million. That would make the deal worth over $4 billion, although planemakers typically give discounts for big deals with airlines. These enormous jets will play a vital role as Riyadh Air seeks to help turn the Saudi capital into a top tourist destination — a key part of the kingdom's Vision 2030 plan to diversify its economy. Riyadh Air, set to start flying later this year, is expected to operate a hub-and-spoke route model — connecting destinations around the world via its home base. This requires owning large-capacity planes for the most popular routes. Emirates operates similarly, hence its big bet on the double-decker Airbus A380. Riyadh Air kicked off its program with an order for up to 72 Boeing 787 jets, but tapped Airbus for its first narrow-body order of 60 A321neos. Riyadh Air CEO Tony Douglas previously told Business Insider its extra-wide-body planes would "almost certainly" include a first-class cabin, unlike the 787s. The A350-1000 can carry up to 410 passengers in a typical three-class layout and has a range of over 9,000 miles. It competes with Boeing's 777X, which has a wider fuselage and more modern technologies, but has been hampered by delays. While Boeing showed the plane at the last Paris Air Show in 2023, it wasn't displayed at Farnborough last year during the planemaker's safety crisis, nor this year due to ongoing flight tests. It was initially supposed to launch in 2020, but has since been postponed until 2026 as it awaits certification. However, the A350-1000 has also faced some challenges. It has a checkered history with Middle Eastern carriers, primarily due to issues from the hot and sandy climate in the region. This made headlines at the 2023 Dubai Air Show after Emirates boss Tim Clark slammed the plane's Rolls-Royce engines. In harsher environments, the engines require more frequent maintenance. Emirates instead placed a smaller order for the A350-900, which uses a different type of Rolls-Royce engine. Meanwhile, it is Boeing's biggest customer for the 777X, responsible for nearly half its 551 orders. Rolls-Royce has invested over $1 billion to improve the durability of its Trent engine family, which its president of civil aerospace referenced in its Riyadh Air announcement. Qatar Airways has also been unhappy with the A350 in the past, temporarily grounding its fleet. The type's launch customer sued Airbus in 2021, alleging that safety was compromised because cracked paint exposed the copper mesh, which protects the plane from lightning strikes. Airbus said the problem was only cosmetic and filed a countersuit before the dispute was settled in 2023. Now with a sizable order from Riyadh Air, it's clear the A350's reputation is improving with a new lease of life.
BBC News
11 hours ago
- Business
- BBC News
Rolls-Royce secures international deals for 142 aircraft engines
Rolls-Royce has secured multiple contracts to supply more than 140 aircraft Derby-based firm's civil aerospace division will build 90 Trent XWB-97 engines, 40 Trent 7000 engines and 12 Trent XWB-84 engines for companies across Saudia Arabia, Egypt, Taiwan and said the deals followed a £1bn investment to the Trent engine family aimed at improving their durability and at the 2025 International Paris Air Show, Ewen McDonald, chief customer officer for the firm's civil aerospace division said the contracts would help to safeguard jobs in Derby. "The opportunity at the moment in the market is very buoyant", said Mr McDonald."It's always nice to see Rolls-Royce being successful and that we're filling the factory up with these engines for many years to come."It's lots of work for many years and a lot of these orders go out into the 2030s."Mr McDonald added there were still some orders placed at the Paris Air Show that were yet to be announced. The new contracts AviLease, based in Saudi Arabia, placed an order for 20 Trent XWB-97 engines to power 10 Airbus A350F freighter Air, Saudi Arabia's newest national carrier, placed an order of 50 Trent XWB-97 engines that will power 25 Airbus based Starlux Airlines placed an order for 20 Trent XWB-97 engines that will power 10 Airbus A350-1000 widebody has ordered an additional 12 Trent XWB-84 engines that will power six Airbus A350-900s, which takes the airline's total order of Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-84 engines to Vietjet Air has placed an order for 40 Trent 7000 engines, that will power 20 Airbus A330neo aircrafts.
Arab News
2 days ago
- Business
- Arab News
Riyadh Air to launch new destination every 2 months as 787 deliveries near
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia's Riyadh Air is gearing up to introduce a new international destination every two months once it begins operations, as the carrier prepares to receive its first Boeing 787 aircraft. Riyadh Air, fully owned by the Public Investment Fund, is awaiting delivery of its initial aircraft to commence services, according to CEO Tony Douglas. Speaking to Bloomberg, he said the airline requires two jets to initiate a round-trip route to each new destination. Douglas added that Riyadh Air aims to connect to 100 cities by 2030 as part of its long-term growth strategy. This aligns with the Saudi Aviation Strategy, which targets doubling passenger capacity to 330 million annually from over 250 global destinations and increasing cargo handling to 4.5 million tons by 2030. The carrier currently has four Boeing 787 Dreamliners in different stages of assembly at Boeing's facility in Charleston, South Carolina. Operations are expected to begin once the first two aircraft have been delivered. Riyadh Air had initially planned to launch services in early 2025, but delays in aircraft handovers from Boeing have pushed back the timeline. 'The fact that these are in production probably brings my blood pressure down,' Douglas said. 'I will actually not believe they've been delivered until the day after they've been delivered.' Douglas also confirmed that Riyadh Air has secured the necessary landing slots for its first destinations, though he did not disclose which cities they are. At the Paris Air Show this week, the airline announced an order for up to 50 Airbus A350 long-range jets, with deliveries expected to begin in 2030. Riyadh Air has also placed orders for 60 Airbus A321neo narrowbody aircraft and as many as 72 Boeing 787s, including options. Commenting on the Airbus order, Douglas said the decision was based on the aircraft's capabilities and favorable commercial terms when compared with Boeing's 777X model. 'It was a very close call,' he noted, as reported by Bloomberg. The airline's growth strategy reflects the Kingdom's ambition to transform Riyadh into a global travel hub and position Saudi Arabia as a major player in international aviation. Riyadh Air aims to contribute to the broader Vision 2030 goals by enhancing connectivity and promoting tourism across the Kingdom.
Leaders
2 days ago
- Business
- Leaders
Riyadh Air, Rolls-Royce Partner to Power A350-1000 Fleet, Accelerating Global Expansion
Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia's newly launched national carrier, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Rolls-Royce to acquire 100 Trent XWB-97 engines for up to 50 Airbus A350-1000 aircraft. The agreement was announced at the 55th Paris Air Show in Le Bourget. The Trent XWB-97, the most efficient large aero engine currently in service, is designed specifically for the A350-1000 and can generate up to 97,000 pounds of thrust. This strategic deal represents a significant step in Riyadh Air's ambitious expansion plans, as the airline works toward building a global network serving over 100 destinations by 2030. The airline is set to operate a diverse fleet of 182 aircraft across three models. With operations expected to launch later this year, Riyadh Air is positioning itself as a game-changer in international aviation by offering a refined and seamless travel experience. The addition of A350-1000 aircraft, powered by the Trent XWB-97, will greatly enhance the airline's long-haul capabilities, strengthening Riyadh's role as a major aviation hub among G20 nations. This partnership with Rolls-Royce highlights Riyadh Air's commitment to adopting advanced technology and fostering global collaborations to achieve operational excellence, it also meet the evolving expectations of modern travelers. Related Topics: Riyadh Air Officially Obtains GACA's Operational License 1st Group of Indonesian Pilgrims Departs for Saudi Arabia via Makkah Route Initiative Riyadh Air Unveils Dazzling New Livery at Dubai Airshow, Signaling Fresh Horizon Saudi Civil Defense Issues Alert: Heavy Rains, Flooding Until Tuesday Short link : Post Views: 1
