Riyadh Air’s first 2 Boeing 787 Dreamliners finally arrive in Saudi Arabia
Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia’s new airline startup, has taken delivery of the first two factory-fresh Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, which arrived in the Kingdom on June 5 after coordinated delivery flights from the United States.
The two new aircraft, registered HZ-RXAA and HZ-RXAB, departed from separate Boeing production facilities before converging over Europe and continuing to Riyadh together.
History, in motion 🇸🇦
— Riyadh Air | طيران الرياض (@RiyadhAir) June 5, 2026
From handover to first departure, our first @BoeingAirplanes aircraft are now on their way to join the #RiyadhAir fleet. A defining step in building a new world-class airline, proudly rooted in Saudi Arabia ✈️ pic.twitter.com/Wffgi4zXH8
HZ-RXAA departed from Boeing’s South Carolina facility in Charleston (CHS), while HZ-RXAB took off from Boeing’s Everett Delivery Centre (PAE) in Washington state. The aircraft were scheduled to meet en route and land in Riyadh within minutes of one another on Friday morning.
A long-awaited arrival
The deliveries represent a long-awaited milestone for Riyadh Air, the startup backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), which has faced the same Boeing production and supply-chain delays affecting airlines worldwide. The carrier had originally expected to begin receiving its Dreamliners last year, but Boeing’s delivery challenges forced adjustments to the airline’s launch timeline.
قبل قليل:
— Riyadh Air | طيران الرياض (@RiyadhAir) June 5, 2026
طائرات الصقور السعودية تستقبل أولى طائرات طيران الرياض حين دخولها أجواء الوطن 🇸🇦@saudihawks pic.twitter.com/ViDG4C1tuA
The new Dreamliners will form the backbone of Riyadh Air’s initial long-haul network. The airline has ordered 39 Boeing 787-9s, with options for an additional 33 aircraft. It has also ordered 60 Airbus A321neos and 25 Airbus A350-1000s.
The carrier aims to grow its fleet quickly as part of its contribution to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, supporting over 100 million visits from travellers around the world, including tourists, business travellers and attendees at major events planned across the Kingdom.
We were honored to welcome HRH @rbalsaud to Boeing South Carolina, where she got a closer look at our newest aircraft in a visit marking an important milestone for Saudi Arabia’s ambitious national projects ✈️🇸🇦 pic.twitter.com/wLts2mfoCP
— Riyadh Air | طيران الرياض (@RiyadhAir) June 4, 2026
The airline has positioned itself as a premium global carrier, competing with regional rivals such as Emirates and Qatar Airways.
Riyadh Air leased a Boeing 787 from Oman Air last year, which has been operating flights between Riyadh and London, primarily for training and operational readiness purposes, as well as to secure the airline’s slots at Heathrow. The airline took delivery of the leased aircraft last January, dressed in its new livery but not equipped with its new cabin products.
First Riyadh Air long-haul aircraft built for passenger service
THZ-RXAA and HZ-RXAB are the first aircraft built specifically for the airline’s commercial operations and fully equipped for passenger service.
The airline revealed details of its new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner cabins last year. The aircraft will accommodate 290 passengers across four cabin classes: Business Elite, Business, Premium Economy and Economy.
Riyadh Air Boeing 787-9 Business Elite
Business Elite consists of four seats in the first row of the business class cabin, arranged 1-2-1 and equipped with 22.5”-wide Safran Unity Elite seats with 52” privacy walls and a 45” pitch. The lie-flat seats extend to a 78”-long bed. Business Elite features a 32” 4K OLED in-flight entertainment screen with A/C power, one USB-A and two USB-C power outlets.
Riyadh Air Boeing 787-9 business class
Business consists of 24 seats arranged 1-2-1 in six rows, equipped with 22.5”-wide Safran Unity seats with a 45” pitch and also featuring 52” privacy walls. The lie-flat seats extend to a 78”-long bed. Business class has a 22” 4K OLED in-flight entertainment screen with power available through an A/C, one USB-A and two USB-C power sockets.
The airline equipped its premium cabins with Devialet sound systems, which will apply the French company’s acoustic technology directly into Business Elite and Business class headrests, delivering immersive, high-fidelity sound without requiring headphones.
Riyadh Air Boeing 787-9 premium economy
Premium economy has 39 seats in six rows arranged 2-3-2. The airline has selected Recaro PL3530 seats, which are 19.2” wide and set at a 38” pitch. They feature headrest wings for added privacy, equipped with a personal reading light. The in-flight entertainment monitor is a 15.6” wide 4K OLED screen. Device charging is available through four USB-C outlets.
Riyadh Air Boeing 787-9 economy class
Economy class has 223 seats arranged in a 3-3-3 configuration along 25 rows. The airline selected 17.2”-wide Recaro R3 seats, set at a 31” pitch. The in-flight entertainment monitor is a 13.4” wide 4K OLED screen. Passengers can charge their devices on two USB-C outlets.
The Dreamliner’s interior design features elegant colour, material and finishes, including ‘Mocha Gold’ and veined stone accents in premium cabins, contrasting with rich purple textures. A curated palette of dark indigo, mocha, iridescent tones, skyline blue, sunset peach, and lavender, applied throughout the aircraft, reflects Riyadh’s luxury brand identity.
“Riyadh Air has always promised to deliver a world-class experience for our guests and the unveiling of our cabin interiors make this ambition a reality,” said Tony Douglas, Riyadh Air CEO, in the airline’s announcement. “The design, layout, and features of our new cabins are carefully crafted to ensure flights are as comfortable and enjoyable as possible. From the ergonomic and luxurious fabrics in the seats to the high-end technology used in the entertainment systems, every facet of the cabins has been chosen to deliver relaxing luxury.”
Countdown to Riyadh Air’s commercial operations
The arrival of HZ-RXAA and HZ-RXAB marks the start of Riyadh Air’s long-anticipated commercial service launch.
The airline has already opened ticket sales for daily flights between Riyadh and London Heathrow, scheduled to begin on July 1, 2026, operated by the new Boeing 787-9 aircraft.
Though not yet confirmed, the airline has targeted new route launches in Europe to Paris Charles de Gaulle, Madrid Barajas, and Manchester.
The airline has also intends to launch new routes in Asia to Bangkok, Jakarta, Islamabad, Kuala Lumpur, Lahore, Manila, and Mumbai.
Regionally, Riyadh Air plans to serve Amman, Dubai and Cairo, as well as offering a connecting domestic flight between Jeddah and Riyadh.
Featured Image: Riyadh Air
