ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA — Boeing and Saudi Arabian Airlines have revealed that the country's primary flag carrier, SAUDIA, has opted to expand its long-haul fleet by acquiring as many as 49 787 Dreamliners.
The purchase will consist of 39 787s, with an additional ten options, as SAUDIA aims to leverage the exceptional efficiency, range, and versatility of the Dreamliner jets to bolster its worldwide operations in an environmentally friendly manner. The deal will encompass both the 787-9 and 787-10 variants.
The acquisition of new widebody jets is expected to support the country's aim of catering to 330 million passengers and attracting 100 million visitors each year by 2030.
"SAUDIA continues its expansion efforts in all aspects of the airline, whether it's introducing new destinations or increasing the aircraft fleet," said Ibrahim Al-Omar, Director General of SAUDIA Group.
"The agreement with Boeing delivers on this commitment, and the newly added aircraft will further enable SAUDIA to fulfill its strategic objective of bringing the world to the Kingdom," Al-Omar added.
SAUDIA currently operates a fleet of over 50 Boeing airplanes that are on its long-haul routes, including 777-300ERs and 787-9s, and 787-10s. The acquisition of the new aircraft will serve as a valuable complement to the airline's existing fleet, allowing it to maximize the potential of both the 777 and 787 jets in the fleet.
"Adding to its 787 Dreamliner fleet will enable SAUDIA to expand its long-haul service with outstanding range, capacity, and efficiency," said Stan Deal, president, and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes.
"After more than 75 years of partnership, we are honored by SAUDIA's confidence in Boeing products and will continue to support Saudi Arabia's goal to expand sustainable air travel."
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which entered into revenue service in 2011, has been credited with the launch of over 350 new nonstop routes across the globe, with around 50 of those being added since 2020.
