Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Air has signed a deal to acquire up to 50 Airbus A350-1000 aircraft as it gears up to launch operations later this year. 

The agreement, signed at the 55th Paris Air Show, includes 25 firm orders and purchase rights for an additional 25 aircraft. The deal supports Riyadh Air’s plan to build a wide-body fleet capable of serving over 100 destinations globally by 2030.  

Owned by the Public Investment Fund, Riyadh Air was unveiled in March 2023 by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as part of Saudi Arabia’s strategy to become a global aviation hub by expanding connectivity to over 250 destinations and tripling annual passenger traffic to 330 million. 

In a statement, Yasir Al-Rumayyan, PIF governor and chairman of Riyadh Air, said: “Our new national carrier is set to take to the skies in the near future, and as a fundamental element of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s infrastructure, will connect our capital city to over 100 international destinations around the globe by 2030.

He added: “With its outstanding range, adding the Airbus A350-1000 to our fleet demonstrates the strategic contribution of Riyadh Air in positioning Saudi Arabia as a global aviation hub.” 

The A350-1000s, with an operational range exceeding 16,000 km, will enable long-haul connections ahead of high-profile events such as Riyadh Expo 2030 and the FIFA World Cup 2034. 

In April, the airline received its Air Operator Certificate from the General Authority of Civil Aviation, authorizing it to commence flight operations after meeting all regulatory, safety, and operational requirements. 

“Riyadh Air is making significant progress as we move towards our first flight later this year and agreeing this deal for up to 50 Airbus A350-1000 aircraft is an important statement of intent,” said Tony Douglas, CEO of Riyadh Air.

The airline’s launch supports Saudi Arabia’s broader efforts to diversify its economy. According to the General Authority for Civil Aviation, the aviation industry generated $32.2 billion in tourism receipts and supported more than 958,000 jobs in 2023 — 241,000 in aviation and 717,000 in tourism-related sectors. 

“We play an important role in the evolution of the Saudi aviation ecosystem with the aim to create 200,000 direct and indirect jobs and contribute almost $20 billion to the Kingdom’s non-oil GDP,” added Douglas. 

The sector is a key pillar of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy, which aims to raise its gross domestic product contribution from 6 percent to 10 percent by 2030.