Riyadh Air orders 60 Airbus A321 Neo narrow-body jets in long-anticipated deal

The PIF-backed airline start-up will begin taking delivery of the A321 Neos in the second half of 2026

Riyadh Air has ordered 60 Airbus A321 Neos as the start-up builds its fleet. Photo: Riyadh Air

Riyadh Air has placed an order for 60 Airbus A321 Neo narrow-body aircraft in a long-anticipated deal as it builds up its fleet and prepares for its debut flight by mid-2025.

Tony Douglas, chief executive of Riyadh Air, and Benoit de Saint-Exupery, executive vice president for sales at Airbus’s commercial aircraft business, signed an agreement confirming the airline’s second aircraft during the Future Investment Initiative summit in Riyadh on Wednesday.

“This deal underlines the airline’s ambitious intentions in advance of next year’s launch, as it builds a comprehensive international network and establishes Riyadh as a major strategic global aviation hub,” Yasir Al Rumayyan, governor of the Public Investment Fund (PIF) and chairman of PIF-backed Riyadh Air, said.

Riyadh Air placed its first aircraft order in March last year when it signed an agreement for 39 Boeing 787 wide-body planes, with the option for 33 more, to handle long-haul flights.

The new deal for 60 narrow-bodies, along with the existing Boeing order including options, has taken the start-up's order book to a total of 132 aircraft to drive its growth plans.

Riyadh Air plans to launch two new routes per month over the next five years, a fast pace designed to help the airline reach its goal of 100 destinations by 2030.

In September, The National reported that the Saudi start-up would announce its single-aisle jet order by the end of 2024.

Tony Douglas, chief executive of Riyadh Air, left, and Benoit de Saint-Exupery, executive vice president for sales at Airbus’s commercial aircraft business, sign an agreement during the the Future Investment Initiative summit in Riyadh on Wednesday. Photo: Riyadh Air

“This deal strongly reinforces the positive economic impact of Saudi Arabia’s newest airline on both a global and local scale to facilitate the fast-growing Saudi aviation ecosystem,” Mr Douglas, said. Riyadh Air will start taking delivery of the A321 Neos in the second half of 2026, according to a company spokesperson.

The A321 Neos are powered by CFM Leap engines or Pratt and Whitney's PW1100G-JM geared turbofan. A decision regarding the engine-maker is yet to be made, and a competitive tender will be issued.

More than 6,700 A321 Neos have been ordered by more than 90 airlines across the world, according to Airbus.

Riyadh Air is considering next July for its first flight during the peak travel summer season and is “working closely” with Boeing and other suppliers on a specific start date, Vincent Coste, its chief commercial officer, told The National in September.

The Saudi start-up is also considering models including the Boeing 777X or more 787s and Airbus A350s amid talks with both manufacturers for a second wide-body aircraft order.

“We are starting to work beyond 2030 because a lot of events, including the Expo 2030 and the World Cup, will be taking place in Saudi Arabia,” Mr Coste said at the time.

Riyadh Air, which has announced partnerships with major airlines including Delta, Singapore Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Air China and China Eastern to help build its route network, is also considering tie-ups with an airline in the Indian subcontinent and a carrier in western Europe.