Riyadh Air receives first Boeing Dreamliners, as part of PIF drive to elevate Saudi aviation

• PIF-owned Riyadh Air takes delivery of three 787-9 Dreamliners, the first in a planned fleet of 72
• New Saudi national carrier to start additional commercial flights to five cities in Europe and Middle East
• State-of-the-art Boeings are a milestone in PIF’s strategy to strengthen Saudi Arabia’s aviation ecosystem, spur tourism and connectivity

Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia’s new national airline, has taken delivery of its first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft and opened ticket sales for flights to five destinations – Cairo, Dubai, Jeddah, Madrid and Manchester. The PIF-owned national carrier announced the destinations, with additional routes to follow in the coming weeks, while unveiling its new aircraft at a gala event in Riyadh.

The historic announcement followed the arrival of the airline’s first custom-built Dreamliners – two on June 5, 2026, and a third on June 7. The deliveries represent a milestone, connecting Riyadh and Saudi Arabia with key global, regional and domestic centers of business, culture and tourism. Riyadh Air aims to fly to more than 100 destinations by 2030.

With ticket sales to London on the new Dreamliners already open, the airline has now expanded availability to six routes. Riyadh Air will serve each route with new 787-9s, the first in a planned fleet of 72 Dreamliners, featuring state-of-the-art cabin interiors and experiences. The new routes, opening in a staggered schedule over the next six weeks, will not only bring travelers to Riyadh but also link passengers from Europe and the Americas to destinations across the Middle East, South Asia and beyond.

Together, the new aircraft and routes will accelerate PIF’s progress in unlocking and developing strategic industries such as aviation, a central pillar of the Tourism, Travel and Entertainment ecosystem that PIF introduced in April as part of its 2026-2030 strategy. This ecosystem will build on PIF’s investments toward establishing world-class tourism and entertainment industries in Saudi Arabia while also ensuring accessibility and enhancing the overall tourist experience in the country.

Tony Douglas, CEO of Riyadh Air, said, "Today is a momentous day for Riyadh Air as we open sales for Cairo, Dubai, Jeddah, Madrid and Manchester. Following the arrival of our first three Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, this is a major step in our journey to connect Riyadh to the world. But this is just the beginning of our rapid expansion; in the coming weeks we will also be announcing the opening of ticket sales to many more exciting destinations.”

Douglas added: “These routes have been carefully selected to serve key markets for business, tourism and trade, and are designed to facilitate seamless transit for travelers from Europe to destinations across the Middle East, Asia, Africa and beyond, aligning with our ambition to become a global airline and a significant contributor to Vision 2030. We look forward to welcoming our guests aboard to experience our distinctive Saudi hospitality as we connect these great cities and continue to redefine the future of air travel."

In addition to launching its new routes, Riyadh Air is also bringing forward its inaugural Dreamliner flights to London. Originally scheduled for July 1, these flights will now commence on June 10, 2026.