DUBAI— Riyadh Air (RX), backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, expressed interest in acquiring Boeing jets originally destined for Chinese airlines but blocked by escalating US-China trade tensions.
Boeing recently repatriated a third jet to the United States and now seeks buyers for potentially dozens of aircraft affected by Chinese tariffs. “What we’ve done is made it quite clear to Boeing, should that ever happen, we’ll happily take them all,” Riyadh Air CEO Tony Douglas told Reuters.
Photo: Riyadh AirBoeing Aircraft Redistribution
Boeing publicly mentioned this potential aircraft redistribution during a recent analyst call, noting strong demand in the current tight jet market. Meanwhile, Air India (AI) has entered discussions with Boeing to purchase approximately 10 737 MAX jets originally intended for Chinese carriers.
Riyadh Air (RX) does not anticipate a quick resolution to delivery delays affecting major aircraft manufacturers. The airline targets launching operations in the fourth quarter of 2025, with plans to serve 100 destinations by 2030.
“We aim to add 25 new destinations yearly if we maintain a proper growth trajectory.”
Osamah Alnuaiser, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Communication, in a statement to Gulf News
The airline expects to announce its initial routes by summer’s end, though this timeline remains dependent on aircraft deliveries.
The carrier has placed firm orders for 72 Boeing 787 Dreamliners and 60 Airbus A321 family aircraft, totalling 132 planes.
Despite industry-wide manufacturing and supply chain challenges, Riyadh Air (RX) maintains close coordination with Boeing through teams regularly visiting Boeing’s Charleston facilities to monitor the production of their first aircraft.
Photo: Riyadh AirGrowth Strategy
“We are ready to operate. Once we receive that first aircraft, the sky is the limit,” Alnuaiser explained. “It’s a domino effect requiring confidence in fleet availability, human resources, and capacity to operate multiple destinations before opening ticket sales.”
The airline has hired nearly 500 employees and plans to expand its workforce to 1,000 within the next year. Riyadh Air (RX) identified the UAE as a key market within the Gulf Cooperation Council, expecting a significant portion of its future passengers to originate from the region.
Photo: Riyadh AirFuture Plans
Airline partnerships form a crucial element of Riyadh Air’s strategy to extend its network reach. The carrier has established relationships with Delta (DL), Singapore Airlines (SQ), Turkish Airlines (TK), China Eastern (MU), and Air China (CA) to provide passengers with broader connectivity options beyond direct routes.
The airline plans to reveal additional details about its complete passenger experience in the coming months, including food and beverage offerings, wellness programs, and in-flight entertainment options as it prepares for its anticipated launch.
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Air India Explores Acquisition of 10 Boeing 737 MAX Jets
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