Riyadh Air has committed to add 34 more widebody jets through two July 20 agreements announced at the Farnborough Airshow. The Saudi carrier is exercising options for 28 Boeing 787 Dreamliners and firming six more Airbus A350-1000s, expanding both sides of a long haul fleet that is still early in its passenger service life.
For travelers, the orders are a product and network milestone rather than an immediate schedule change. The useful next signals will be finalized Boeing paperwork, delivery dates, cabin plans, and named routes showing where the larger 787-10 and long range A350-1000 will actually fly.
- Combined addition: Riyadh Air announced 34 more widebody aircraft.
- Boeing portion: The airline is exercising options for 28 Dreamliners.
- New variant: Twenty Boeing positions are being converted to the larger 787-10.
- Airbus portion: Six more A350-1000s raise that firm commitment to 31.
- Still unknown: Delivery dates and route assignments were not announced.
The two agreements add 34 future aircraft
Airbus says in its July 20 announcement that Riyadh Air firmed six additional A350-1000s. The move lifts the airline’s firm commitment for that aircraft to 31 from the 25 ordered at the Paris Air Show in 2025.
Boeing separately says Riyadh Air is exercising options for 28 more 787 Dreamliners from its 2023 agreement. Twenty of those positions are being converted to the larger 787-10, introducing a second Dreamliner variant alongside the 787-9s already entering the fleet.
The Boeing paperwork has an important distinction. Its official release identifies 11 previously undisclosed aircraft and says the remaining 17 must be finalized before Riyadh Air’s firm 787 total reaches 67.
That means the headline 28 is a real commercial commitment, but not every aircraft in the Boeing portion has reached the same accounting stage. The six Airbus additions, by contrast, are described by the manufacturer as firmed orders and take the A350-1000 total to 31.
Riyadh Air is building two different widebody families
The airline has already taken delivery of six 787-9s and currently serves six cities, according to Boeing. Those aircraft provide the operational base, including Riyadh Air’s current daily London service, while the newly selected 787-10 adds more seats and a different range and capacity balance for denser markets.
Boeing says the 787-10 can carry about 50 more passengers than the 787-9 in Riyadh Air’s future fleet plan. That comparison does not reveal the final seat count because the airline still controls how much space goes to business class, premium seating, economy, galleys, and other cabin features.
The A350-1000 fills another role. Airbus lists a maximum design range of up to 9,700 nautical miles, or 18,000 kilometers, and says Riyadh Air will be the first Saudi airline to operate the type. That gives the carrier a platform intended for long intercontinental missions, but it is not proof of any particular future destination.
Operating both families gives Riyadh Air more choices in capacity and range, while also creating separate training, maintenance, spare parts, and scheduling needs. The 787-9 and 787-10 share common systems within the Boeing family, but the A350 remains a distinct fleet type.
The order does not name the first routes
Both manufacturers connect the orders to Riyadh Air’s goal of serving more than 100 destinations by 2030. That is a strategic network ambition, not a route list, and neither release identifies which cities will receive the additional aircraft first.
Independent Reuters reporting treats the Boeing and Airbus announcements as one 34-aircraft expansion push. It also notes that the airline began adding scheduled destinations in June and is moving from fleet preparation into active network growth.
The practical passenger evidence will appear later in Riyadh Air’s timetable and booking results. A route announcement needs a launch date, operating days, flight numbers, and aircraft assignment before a traveler can compare the new product against another nonstop or connecting option.
Even after an aircraft appears in the schedule, assignments can change for maintenance or operational reasons. Travelers who book specifically to try a 787-10 or A350-1000 should recheck the aircraft field before departure and avoid treating a scheduled type as a guarantee.
Cabin details will decide the passenger difference
Aircraft type alone does not settle comfort. Seat width, pitch, aisle access, premium cabin density, entertainment, connectivity, storage, and service design will depend on the layouts Riyadh Air approves for each variant.
Boeing points to larger windows, higher cabin humidity, lower cabin altitude pressure, and turbulence sensing across the 787 family. Airbus highlights the A350 Airspace cabin, long range design, modern aerodynamics, and a fuel burn advantage compared with previous generation competitor aircraft.
Those are manufacturer descriptions of the platforms. Travelers will need Riyadh Air seat maps and product pages to see how the carrier translates them into a real cabin, including whether the larger 787-10 uses its extra space for more seats, more premium capacity, or a mixture of both.
The difference may also vary by route. Airlines often assign larger aircraft to markets with more passengers or cargo, while using their longest range type where distance, payload, and airport conditions demand it. Riyadh Air has not publicly assigned those roles to named flights in this announcement.
| If this is the question | Use this evidence |
|---|---|
| Did Riyadh Air add 34 aircraft? | Yes. The July 20 Boeing and Airbus commitments total 34 widebodies. |
| Are all 28 Boeing jets fully finalized? | No. Boeing says 17 still require finalization. |
| How many A350-1000s are firm? | Airbus says the six additions raise the firm total to 31. |
| Which routes will use the new jets? | Wait for dated schedules with flight numbers and aircraft assignments. |
| What will the cabins include? | Use Riyadh Air seat maps and product pages once published. |
- Boeing finalization: Seventeen aircraft still need completed paperwork.
- Delivery timing: Handover dates will show when added capacity can enter service.
- Cabin layouts: Seat maps will reveal the real passenger product on each type.
- First routes: Bookable flight numbers matter more than range based predictions.
- Aircraft changes: Recheck the operating type close to departure.
Why the fleet mix matters now
The combined announcement gives Riyadh Air a clearer long term fleet structure while its network is beginning to operate at scale. The 787 side grows around aircraft already in service, and the A350 side adds a second long range family that can support later stages of international expansion.
It also shows that the airline is not relying on one manufacturer or one widebody size. The 787-9, 787-10, and A350-1000 create different capacity choices, which may help Riyadh Air match aircraft to demand as new destinations mature.
For passengers, that flexibility can eventually mean more nonstop options, more seats, or a different cabin product. None of those outcomes should be assumed from the order alone, because the airlines’ delivery sequence, network plan, and interior decisions will determine what reaches the booking screen.
The clean reading as of July 20 is therefore specific. Riyadh Air has committed to 28 additional Dreamliners and firmed six additional A350-1000s, while part of the Boeing agreement still needs finalization and all delivery, cabin, and route decisions remain ahead.
How many aircraft did Riyadh Air add on July 20?
The Boeing and Airbus announcements total 34 additional widebody aircraft: 28 Dreamliners and six A350-1000s.
How many Boeing 787-10s are included?
Boeing says Riyadh Air is converting 20 positions to the larger 787-10 variant.
Is the entire Boeing agreement finalized?
No. Boeing says 11 aircraft were previously undisclosed and the remaining 17 must be finalized before the firm 787 total reaches 67.
How many Airbus A350-1000s has Riyadh Air firmly ordered?
Airbus says the six additions increase Riyadh Air’s firm A350-1000 commitment to 31 aircraft.
Which routes will use the new aircraft?
Riyadh Air did not announce first routes or delivery dates for the added aircraft. Travelers should wait for bookable schedules that identify the operating type.
