Riyadh Air Receives First Boeing 787‑9 Dreamliners Ahead of July Launch

Saudi Arabia’s new national carrier Riyadh Air took delivery of its first two Boeing 787‑9 Dreamliners on 5 June 2026. The aircraft, registered HZ‑RXAA and HZ‑RXAB, arrived at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and were greeted with a ceremonial water‑cannon salute. The delivery was attended by Public Investment Fund governor Yasir Al‑Rumayyan and CEO Tony Douglas, who called the event “a historic moment” for Saudi aviation.

The jets were hand‑overed at Boeing’s factory in Charleston, South Carolina, and one departed from Everett, Washington, before joining the airline’s fleet. They mark the first deliveries from an order of up to 72 Dreamliners that will serve regional and long‑haul routes, supporting Saudi Vision 2030’s goal of attracting 150 million visitors and transporting 330 million passengers annually by 2030. Riyadh Air plans to launch full‑service flights to London Heathrow on 1 July 2026, the first route to be operated exclusively by the new Dreamliners, and aims to serve more than 100 destinations and a fleet of over 180 aircraft by the end of the decade. Saudi aviation authorities project the carrier will contribute roughly $20 billion to the non‑oil economy and create over 200 000 jobs.