North Charleston, S.C., United States – 05 May 2023: Led by HRH Princess Reema Bandar Al Saud, Ambassador of The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the United States along with delegates from Riyadh Air, the new world-class airline along with Saudia were today welcomed to Boeing’s factory in Charleston, South Carolina to visit the home of the 787 Dreamliner, where its planes are designed, assembled and delivered. The tour of the factory was organized after Riyadh Air announced the fleet orders of 72 aircrafts, with 39 confirmed and the additional of 33 787-9s, in a wider deal which is the fifth largest commercial order by value in Boeing’s history.

As Riyadh Air looks forward to receiving the first delivery of the wide-body aircraft ahead of its flight in 2025, the delegation included the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the United States, HRH Princess Reema Bandar Al Saud; joined by Riyadh Air CEO, Tony Douglas, and Saudia CEO Captain Ibrahim Koshy. The event was attended by President and CEO of The Boeing Company David Calhoun, Henry McMaster Governor of South Carolina and Lindsey Graham US Senator for South Carolina, alongside wider representatives from the Kingdom’s national carriers. Riyadh Air’s attendees were able to speak with over 3,000 of the factory staff and to witness first-hand the quality of Boeing’s manufacturing.

Riyadh Air and Boeing’s partnership will help deliver a world-class airline that will connect Riyadh to over 100 destinations around the world by 2030 and support Saudi Arabia’s wider goal of serving 330 million passengers and attracting 100 million visitors by 2030.

In total, the Kingdom’s national carriers announced the fleet orders of up to 121 787 Dreamliners. In terms of economic impact, in the U.S., the agreement is to support nearly 100,000 direct and indirect jobs and more than 300 suppliers from across 38 states, including 145 U.S. small businesses.

The partnership with Boeing reflects Riyadh Air’s commitment to delivering an exceptional travel experience by harnessing cutting-edge technology, and our ambition to operate one of the newest and most sustainable airline fleets in the world. As a digitally native airline, Riyadh Air’s 787 aircraft will be equipped with the most advanced, state-of-the-art technology, including next generation digital in-flight entertainment systems and connectivity solutions.