Riyadh Air CEO reveals imminent plane deliveries

Saudi startup airline Riyadh Air said it will shortly take delivery of three Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, a key step as the PIF-owned carrier accelerates expansion ahead of a planned global rollout. Chief executive Tony Douglas told delegates at the PIF Private Sector Forum in Riyadh that the three aircraft are complete at Boeing’s factory in Charleston, South Carolina, and a fourth is “in the paint shop.” Riyadh Air has been operating with a single Boeing 787-9 since it launched its first commercial flight in 2025 and currently offers a daily service to London Heathrow.

Direct quote

On the forum stage, Douglas was explicit about the airline’s appetite for outside partnerships: “We’re open to business,” he said, adding: “There is a wide waterfront of opportunity. Go all in. We’re here to partner.” He also said a “huge amount” of Saudi pilot cadets will be inducted into the company’s new pilot training facility at King Khalid International Airport later this year, and confirmed plans to recruit 15,000 cabin crew “over the fullness of time.”

Context and details

Riyadh Air is wholly owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), which the company cited as a $1 trillion entity. The carrier placed a multi-billion-dollar order for up to 72 Boeing 787-9s in March 2023 and has said it aims to deploy more than 120 wide-body aircraft to link goods and passengers across more than 100 global cities. The airline launched cargo operations in January and delivered its first consignment to Heathrow.

• Three Boeing 787-9s complete at Boeing’s Charleston factory; a fourth in paint shop
• Operating one 787-9 in commercial service since first flight in 2025
• Order for up to 72 Boeing 787-9s placed in March 2023
• Target: connect to more than 100 destinations by 2030
• PIF projects Riyadh Air will contribute $20 billion to non-oil GDP and support more than 200,000 jobs globally

The aircraft deliveries were announced at the PIF Private Sector Forum, where Riyadh Air is one of 120 PIF portfolio companies pitching opportunities to investors and suppliers. Organisers said the forum is expected to yield more than 100 memoranda of understanding. Industry observers note that manufacturers such as Airbus and Boeing face considerable backlogs of orders, a factor that could affect timing and further deliveries across the sector.

Outlook

With three 787-9s now complete and a fourth nearing completion, Riyadh Air has tangible momentum as it scales toward its 2030 network goal. The company’s stated ambition—to serve more than 100 destinations and operate a fleet that could include more than 120 wide-body aircraft—remains dependent on steady production from manufacturers and execution of recruitment and training programmes in Saudi Arabia.

Douglas’ public invitation to the private sector signals an intent to accelerate supplier and commercial partnerships: “We’re here to partner,” he said. If Riyadh Air can convert forum interest into signed deals and secure timely aircraft deliveries, it will be positioned to expand frequency and routes from its base at King Khalid International Airport and deepen cargo and passenger operations over the coming years.