Riyadh Air has seen its third Boeing 787 Dreamliner roll off the production line in the United States (US) as the airline prepares to launch its first commercial flights.
On December 14, 2025, Riyadh Air posted a series of photos of its latest 787 Dreamliner outside the Boeing facility while still requiring its carrier livery.
The aircraft’s tail appeared in the Riyadh Air colors, but the all-white fuselage was still awaiting its new livery.
“A new step toward our fleet’s readiness. Our third 787 Dreamliner aircraft rolls off the production line,” wrote Riyadh Air in a social media post.
Additionally, Riyadh Air confirmed that its first aircraft is nearing its final certification stages followed closely by the second.
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.
Riyadh Air expects to launch its first commercial flights in early 2026, after completing its first passenger flight on October 25, 2025.
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.
To help bolster its early fleet, Riyadh Air also signed a lease agreement with Saudi-owned Avi Lease for a single Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.
خطوة جديدة نحو جاهزية أسطولنا ✈
— Riyadh Air (@RiyadhAir) December 14, 2025
طائرتنا الثالثة من طراز 787 دريملاينر تخرج من خط الإنتاج، في وقت تقترب فيه طائرتنا الأولى من مراحل الاعتماد النهائية لتتبعها طائرتنا الثانية قريبًا ضمن خطتنا لبناء أسطول مصمّم ليتماشى مع العصر الجديد للسفر. pic.twitter.com/OJHTrZAv8V
On December 15, 2025, Riyadh Air signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Huawei to develop the airline’s next-generation digital ecosystem.
Huawei will support Riyadh Air’s broader digital transformation, leveraging its expertise in cloud, AI, mobility services, and integrated digital ecosystems.
“China market is an important part of Riyadh Air’s global expansion and essential to Saudi Arabia’s tourism growth,” said Vincent Coste, Chief Commercial Officer of Riyadh Air. “As the Kingdom raises its target to 150 million tourists by 2030 our partnership with Huawei strengthens our ability to deliver the digital, seamless and personalized journey Chinese guests travelers expect.”