- Riyadh Air, a Saudi Arabian startup airline, is set to finalize a major jet order in early 2025.
- The airline is evaluating options for the industry's largest twin-aisle jets, including the Boeing 777X and Airbus A350-1000.
- CEO Tony Douglas predicts the decision will be made in the first or second quarter of 2025.
Last year, Riyadh Air placed an order for 39 Boeing 787 wide-body jets with an option for 33 more, as part of a larger agreement that also includes national carrier Saudia. Additionally, the airline confirmed a firm order for 60 Airbus A321neo-family aircraft just last week.
While Douglas did not disclose the size of the new order, he emphasized that Riyadh Air’s long-term goal is to operate over 200 aircraft. The airline, which plans to begin operations next year, is preparing to begin formal discussions on a new order for large wide-body aircraft within the next two months.
The A321neo, a popular single-aisle aircraft with a capacity of around 200 seats, competes with the Boeing 737 MAX. Airbus has sold out the A321neo through the end of the decade, and the jets ordered by Riyadh Air are expected to be delivered between the second half of 2026 and 2030.
Douglas hinted at the possibility of further purchases and highlighted that the deal had been part of a complex financing arrangement involving future delivery slots originally assigned to AirAsia, which is restructuring its order book.
The A321neos will be used by Riyadh Air to open new routes or service markets where smaller jets are needed. The airline has not yet decided on which specific A321neo model to take, but it is likely to include long-distance versions to meet its operational needs.
Riyadh Air, owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, is one of the fastest-growing airline launches in the industry.
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