Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Air has placed a firm order for 60 Airbus A321neo aircraft, marking a significant expansion for the kingdom’s second flag carrier ahead of its planned launch in 2025.
The agreement was signed during the Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh, with key officials present including Public Investment Fund Governor and Riyadh Air Chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan, Riyadh Air CEO Tony Douglas, and Airbus Commercial Aircraft CEO Christian Scherer.
“This investment will not only enable us to support economic growth in the aviation industry, it will ensure Riyadh Air operates one of the most fuel efficient fleets,” Douglas said. “It’ll be instrumental in helping Saudi Arabia achieve its decarbonisation goals.”
The A321neo order complements Riyadh Air’s existing commitment for 39 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. The airline plans to establish its hub at King Khalid International Airport, serving over 100 destinations across six continents.
“We are proud to welcome Riyadh Air as a new Airbus customer and partner,” Scherer said. “The latest generation A321neo aircraft will bring exceptional efficiency to the airline’s operations, concrete contributions to its decarbonisation goals and comfort to its passengers.”
The A321neo, the largest variant in the A320neo family, offers significant environmental improvements over its predecessors, including a 50% reduction in noise and more than 20% savings in fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions.
According to Airbus, the aircraft features the widest single-aisle cabin currently available in the commercial aviation market.
Riyadh Air has already secured cooperation agreements with several major carriers, including SkyTeam members Delta Air Lines, China Eastern Airlines, and Saudia, as well as Star Alliance partners Turkish Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Air China, and Egyptair.
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