Riyadh Air, the new premium international airline based in Saudi Arabia, has placed a firm order for 25 A350-1000 aircraft.
The agreement, which can potentially increase to 50 A350-1000 was signed at the ongoing Paris Air Show, with the ceremony attended by Yasir Al-Rumayyan, Governor, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF); Christian Scherer, CEO, Commercial Aircraft, Airbus and Tony Douglas, CEO, 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 300mn air passengers annually by the end of the decade, positioning the country as a global aviation and tourism hub, according to a press statement.
Efficiency and comfort
“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,” stated Adam Boukadida, Chief Financial Officer, Riyadh Air.
“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”, affirmed Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, Airbus EVP Sales, Commercial Aircraft business.
As with all Airbus aircraft, the A350 is already capable of operating with up to 50% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Airbus aims for all its aircraft to be 100% SAF-capable by 2030.
