RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s new national carrier Riyadh Air has taken delivery of its first two custom-built Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, marking a major milestone in the airline’s preparations for commercial expansion and the Kingdom’s broader efforts to establish Riyadh as a global aviation hub, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Friday.
The twin aircraft arrived at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh at about 10 a.m. local time and were greeted with a ceremonial water cannon salute. Registered as HZ-RXAA and HZ-RXAB and operating under the call signs “Riyadh 1” and “Riyadh 2,” the jets are the first deliveries from Riyadh Air’s order of 72 Boeing 787 Dreamliners.
The arrival represents a significant step for the airline, which is wholly owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) and forms part of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 strategy to diversify the economy and strengthen its aviation and tourism sectors.
Riyadh Air officials and crew pose for a souvenir photo upon the arrival of the first two Dreamliners at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on June 5, 2026. (SPA)
Chief Executive Tony Douglas described the delivery as a historic moment for both the airline and Saudi aviation.
