Riyadh Air places firm order for 25 Airbus A350-1000 aircraft

Riyadh Air has placed a firm order for 25 A350-1000 aircraft. The agreement, which can potentially increase to 50 A350-1000 was signed at the Paris Air Show, with the ceremony attended by H.E Yasir Al-Rumayyan, The Governor of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), Christian Scherer, CEO Commercial Aircraft at Airbus and Tony Douglas, CEO of Riyadh Air. Riyadh Air will become the first airline in Saudi Arabia  to operate the A350-1000. It also supports Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 ambition to reach 300 million air passengers annually by the end of the decade, positioning the country as a global aviation and tourism hub.

Adam Boukadida, Chief Financial Officer of Riyadh Air commented: “This order marks a significant step forward in building a world-class airline that reflects the ambitions of Vision 2030. The A350-1000 will bring outstanding efficiency and comfort to our fleet, supporting our sustainability goals and enabling Riyadh Air to offer a premium experience while connecting Saudi Arabia to the world. It’s a clear signal of our intent to shape the future of air travel and contribute meaningfully to the Kingdom’s fast-growing aviation ecosystem.”

Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, Airbus EVP Sales of the Commercial Aircraft business stated: “We are proud to extend our strategic partnership with Riyadh Air as it continues to build a pioneering carrier for the Kingdom. As the long-range leader, the A350-1000 will provide unrivalled efficiency, range and passenger comfort, making it the ideal choice to support the airline’s ambitious growth plans and Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 objectives to enhance global connectivity and economic diversification.”

The A350 is the world’s most modern and efficient widebody aircraft, setting new standards for intercontinental travel. It also offers the longest range capability of any commercial airliner in production today. As with all Airbus aircraft, the A350 is already capable of operating with up to 50% Sustainable Aviation Fuel. Airbus aims for all its aircraft to be 100% SAF-capable by 2030.

At the end of May 2025, the A350 Family has won over 1,390 firm orders from more than 60 customers worldwide, with 657 aircraft in service on long, medium and short haul routes around the world.