Riyadh Air has released images of its first new-build Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, now approaching completion at Boeing’s assembly facility in Charleston, South Carolina.
The aircraft is due to join the Saudi carrier’s fleet later this year, with entry into service expected by the end of October as the airline prepares to launch operations.
The newcomer is part of a wider fleet strategy that will see Riyadh Air operate both Boeing 787s and Airbus aircraft, following major orders placed in recent months.
The airline has also unveiled its new cabin designs and hinted at its initial network of destinations.
Boeing’s South Carolina site, established in 2009, is the manufacturer’s sole production facility for the Dreamliner.
The campus employs around 8,000 people and includes a 1.2 million sq ft final assembly building, paint hangar and interiors plant. A $1bn expansion is planned for 2026 as Boeing ramps up 787 production to 10 aircraft per month by 2027.
Riyadh Air, backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, is positioning itself as a new global airline hubbed in the Kingdom’s capital, aiming to support the country’s Vision 2030 plans to expand tourism and connectivity.
