Riyadh Air, the new premium international airline based in Saudi Arabia, has announced a firm order for 60 A321neo Family aircraft. The agreement was signed during the Future Investment Initiative (FII) in Riyadh, marking a significant milestone for the airline. The signing ceremony featured prominent figures, including His Excellency Yasir Al-Rumayyan, Governor of the Public Investment Fund (PIF) and Chairman of Riyadh Air, alongside Tony Douglas, CEO of Riyadh Air, Christian Scherer, CEO of Commercial Aircraft at Airbus, and Benoit de Saint-Exupery, Executive Vice President of Sales for Commercial Aircraft.
“This investment will not only enable us to support economic growth in the aviation industry, but it will also ensure Riyadh Air operates one of the most fuel efficient fleets. It’ll be instrumental in helping Saudi Arabia achieve its decarbonisation goals,” said Riyadh Air CEO Tony Douglas. “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.”
Christian Scherer, CEO of Commercial Aircraft at Airbus, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership: “We are proud to welcome Riyadh Air as a new Airbus customer and partner. 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. We look forward to working together to support the strong ambitions of Saudi aviation.”
The A321neo is the largest member of Airbus’ best-selling A320neo Family, known for its unparalleled range and performance. With new generation engines and Sharklets, the A321neo offers a 50% noise reduction and more than 20% fuel savings and CO₂ reduction compared to previous generation single-aisle aircraft, while maximizing passenger comfort in the widest single-aisle cabin in the sky.
This order highlights Riyadh Air’s commitment to enhancing its fleet and contributing to the growth of the Saudi aviation sector, aligning with the country’s broader economic ambitions.
