Riyadh Air Expected To Order Airbus A350-1000 As Flagship Aircraft

In the coming weeks, Riyadh Air is expected to place a huge aircraft order, for what will ultimately be the carrier’s flagship aircraft.

Riyadh Air choosing Airbus A350 over Boeing 777X

Airline startup Riyadh Air is expected to launch operations in late 2025, as Saudi Arabia’s ambitious new carrier, connecting Riyadh (RUH) to the world. The company has huge growth plans, and so far has ordered up to 72 Boeing 787-9s, and up to 60 Airbus A321neos.

We’ve known that the airline plans to order another wide body aircraft, and until recently, the airline was reportedly deciding between the Airbus A350 and Boeing 777X. According to widespread reports, Riyadh Air has ultimately decided to go with Airbus, and an order is expected to be announced at the upcoming Paris Air Show, taking place June 16 through June 22, 2025.

While exact details remain to be seen, the plan is for the airline to order roughly 50 Airbus A350s, with a particular focus on the A350-1000, which is the largest variant of the jet. We don’t know if the airline will exclusively order that aircraft, or if there might also be some of the smaller A350-900 variant in the mix.

The A350-1000 is one of the most in demand wide body jets, given its long range, high capacity, and great unit costs. One wonders how far into the future these deliveries will happen, given the challenges with securing a meaningful number of A350-1000 delivery slots.

It’s not surprising to see Riyadh Air select the A350, given that the 777X hasn’t even been certified yet, and is six years behind schedule. So going with the 777X seems like a bit of a gamble. Then again, once it’s actually flying, it should be a pretty great aircraft.

The A350 will be Riyadh Air’s flagship aircraft

While Riyadh Air will be launching operations with the Boeing 787, the long term plan is for the upcoming Airbus A350 to be the carrier’s flagship aircraft. That’s to say that eventually (who knows when), the A350 will operate from Riyadh to the carrier’s most important markets.

For example, Riyadh Air has recently unveiled its planned Boeing 787s cabins, and they look great. However, the airline opted not to offer first class on these jets, though does plan to offer first class on its upcoming flagship aircraft (the A350).

Riyadh Air has made a lot of promises about its passenger experience, and I look forward to seeing what kind of an experience the airline is actually able to deliver. It’s certainly one of the most well funded and thoughtful airline startups we’ve seen in a long time.

Bottom line

In the next couple of weeks, Riyadh Air is expected to place an order for roughly 50 Airbus A350s, with a particular focus on the A350-1000 variant. So far, Riyadh Air has ordered the 787-9 and A321neo, and we’ve known that the airline was trying to decide between the A350 and 777X for its flagship aircraft. It sounds like Airbus has won that battle…

What do you make of Riyadh Air’s expected A350 order?