JEDDAH: 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. 

Christian Scherer, CEO of commercial aircraft at Airbus, said: “This partnership reflects our shared commitment to innovation and decarbonization whilst connecting the vibrant Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the world!”  

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund-owned AviLease has signed a deal to purchase up to 77 Airbus aircraft, further expanding its next-generation, fuel-efficient fleet to meet rising global demand across passenger and cargo operations.

The agreement, announced at the Paris Air Show, includes 55 A320neo Family aircraft and 22 A350F freighters, with deliveries scheduled through 2033, according to a press release.

This marks AviLease’s first direct order with Airbus. The move aligns with the goals of the Saudi Aviation Strategy, which targets a rise in annual passenger capacity to 330 million and cargo throughput to 4.5 million tonnes by 2030, while enhancing the Kingdom’s status as a regional aviation hub.

“This dual order reinforces AviLease’s credentials as a leading lessor, and it demonstrates the broad appeal of our products among lessors and their airline customers,” said Benoit de Saint-Exupéry, executive vice president of sales for Airbus Commercial Aircraft.

Edward O’Byrne, CEO of AviLease, said: “We are proud to establish an Airbus order book, strengthening our position as a full-service, investment grade global lessor. The addition of these latest generation aircraft enhances our ability to offer modern, fuel-efficient fleet solutions to our airline partners in Saudi Arabia and around the world.”

The A350F freighters were selected following consultations with local stakeholders and will support Saudi Arabia’s expanding air cargo requirements. O’Byrne noted that AviLease has secured delivery slots in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goals.

“We thank our local partners and Airbus for the strong long-term partnership we have established and look forward to placing these aircraft across our valued customer base,” he said.

The A350F, according to Airbus, offers at least 20 percent lower fuel consumption, improved loading capabilities, and extended range.

The new order follows AviLease’s purchase of 30 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft in May—its first direct deal with a manufacturer—bringing its total new aircraft orders within two months to 107.

“In less than two months, AviLease has signed two major deals, reflecting its long-term ambition to become a top 10 global player in aircraft leasing and to strengthen its position as a national champion,” said Fahad Al-Saif, chairman of AviLease.

As of March 31, AviLease had a portfolio of 200 aircraft leased to 48 airlines around the world.

In April, the firm secured a $1.5 billion unsecured revolving credit facility to support its global expansion. The three-year facility attracted commitments from 20 international banks, including eight new lenders from Europe, Asia, and North America.

The company holds investment-grade ratings of Baa2 (stable) from Moody’s Ratings and BBB (stable) from Fitch Ratings.