The Saudi carrier is exercising options for 28 Boeing 787 jets, adding the larger 787-10 as it builds capacity for a planned global network by 2030.
Riyadh Air has announced plans to exercise options for 28 additional Boeing 787 Dreamliner jets, including the conversion of 20 aircraft to the larger 787-10 variant. The agreement, announced with Boeing on July 20, 2026, would expand the Saudi carrier’s firm order count to 67 Dreamliners once the remaining 17 aircraft are finalised. The move links fleet growth directly to Riyadh Air’s plan to operate to more than 100 international destinations by 2030.
The announcement comes as Riyadh Air develops its position as the new national carrier of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The airline has taken delivery of six 787-9 jets and currently serves six cities, according to the release. Its expansion is also tied to Saudi Vision 2030, with the carrier expected to help connect Riyadh, the country’s G20 capital, to a wider network of global destinations.
The additional commitment includes a previously unidentified purchase of 11 787 aircraft, while 17 remaining options are to be finalised. Riyadh Air said operating both the 787-9 and 787-10 would provide fleet commonality through shared flight-deck systems, maintenance procedures and pilot training. Boeing describes the 787-10 as the largest member of the Dreamliner family; compared with the 787-9, it is intended to provide 50 additional seats, while the release says it uses 25% less fuel and produces 25% fewer emissions than the aircraft it replaces.
For Riyadh Air, the order is therefore not simply a question of adding aircraft. The larger variant is presented as a way to increase capacity while retaining operational similarities across the fleet, supporting the carrier’s stated need for flexibility as its network develops. The release also says Riyadh Air expects its global expansion to generate more than 200,000 direct and indirect jobs and contribute more than $20 billion, or SAR 75 billion, to non-oil gross domestic product growth by 2030. Those figures are company expectations rather than reported outcomes.
The agreement keeps the Boeing 787 at the centre of Riyadh Air’s long-term fleet plan while introducing greater scale through the 787-10. The carrier says its aircraft will feature advanced cabin interiors, digital inflight entertainment and connectivity, with Saudi hospitality forming part of the intended onboard experience. As the remaining options are finalised, the fleet decision will give Riyadh Air a defined platform for pursuing its 2030 target, although the release does not provide delivery dates for the 28 aircraft.
