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PIF-owned Riyadh Air placed a firm order with Airbus for 60 A321neo aircraft, part of the European aircraft maker’s best-selling aircraft family type, according to a statement from Airbus. The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the Future Investment Initiative forum. The story got ink from Reuters and Bloomberg.
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What we know: The order will set Riyadh Air back some USD 4 bn, Reuters said, citing estimates accounting for usual markdowns from aviation consultancy Cirium Ascend. Deliveries are expected to run between 2H 2026 and 2030, Riyadh Air CEO Tony Douglas said. The latest order brings Riyadh Air’s orderbook to 132 aircraft, with the carrier gearing up to kick off operations next year.
Cutting in line: The lead time for the order is unusually short — given Airbus’ significant backlogs — implying that Riyadh Air nabbed early slots previously booked by other airlines that could not make good on payments, industry sources said.
The A320neo order is part of Riyadh Air’s sustainability goals: The new investment “will ensure Riyadh Air operates one of the most fuel efficient fleets,” Douglas said, adding that the purchase will help the Kingdom meet its decarbonization targets. The A321neo aircraft family deploys new engines and specially-designed wingtips that cut fuel consumption and CO2 emission by 20% in comparison to legacy single-aisle aircraft, while also cutting back on noise pollution, according to Airbus.
Yet another hit for Boeing: The latest Airbus order follows speculation that Riyadh Air was close to sealing a 100-plane purchase from Boeing, with the airline cautioning at the time that both Airbus and Boeing were being considered for an upcoming order of narrowbody jets, Reuters noted.
IN OTHER AVIATION NEWS-
Hong Kong carrier Cathay Pacific will run three weekly flights between Riyadh and Hong Kong, connecting King Khalid International Airport with Hong Kong International Airport, King Khalid International Airport said on X.
