New carrier on the block Riyadh Air has signed a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner lease agreement with Saudi-owned Avi Lease as it awaits the arrival of its own official fleet.
On October 27, 2025, AviLease and Riyadh Air confirmed they had signed a “landmark” deal for a single Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner with delivery scheduled for the final quarter of 2025.
The agreement positions AviLease as the inaugural lessor to partner with Saudi Arabia’s newest airline.
“We are pleased to complete our first aircraft lease with AviLease as we continue building a young, fuel-efficient fleet ahead of our commercial launch. The Boeing 787 is a highly capable aircraft that will play an important role in delivering a world-class travel experience for our future guests. This agreement marks an important step in establishing Riyadh Air as a leading global airline,” said Adam Boukadida, CFO at Riyadh Air.
On October 26, 2025, Riyadh Air completed its maiden passenger flight. The carrier flew from Riyadh King Khalid International Airport (RUH) to London-Heathrow Airport (LHR).
Onboard the Boeing 787-9, leased from Oman Air, were staff members of Riyadh Air and of the Public Investment Fund (PIF), the Saudi sovereign wealth fund.
“This agreement is an important milestone for AviLease. We are continuing to build our investment-grade leasing platform to compete at the top of the industry, globally. Yet, we are also very clear on our role in helping build-up the Saudi aviation ecosystem. As such, I am really glad that we can witness the launch of such a key new carrier for the Kingdom,” said Edward O’Byrne, CEO of AviLease.
الحمدلله على السلامة
— Riyadh Air (@RiyadhAir) October 26, 2025
وصلت اليوم أولى رحلاتنا الافتتاحية إلى لندن، في خطوة جديدة ضمن مسارنا نحو الانطلاق من الرياض إلى العالم والوصول لأكثر من 100 وجهة بحلول عام 2030 🌎#طيران_الرياض pic.twitter.com/W8WYaZs4Iq
He added: “Becoming Riyadh Air’s first leasing partner highlights the trust placed in AviLease and reinforces our position as a strategic enabler of the Kingdom’s aviation ambitions.”
Riyadh Air has ordered 60 Airbus A321neo, 25 A350-1000 and 39 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft. The first official delivery is expected before the end of the year.