Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Air Postpones Operations Due to Dreamliner Delays
Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia's ambitious new airline, has delayed its launch to the third quarter of 2025 due to Boeing 787 Dreamliner production issues. The airline, which plans to focus on high-net-worth passengers, continues to prepare for operations with aggressive expansion plans despite the setbacks
The much-anticipated new airline of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh Air, has postponed the start of its operations until at least the third quarter of 2025 due to ongoing delays in the production of Boeing 787 Dreamliners, according to The National.
Announced in early 2023, the airline had been introduced as an ambitious project by the Saudi government with the goal of commencing operations within two years. However, the first of the 72 Boeing 787 Dreamliners ordered has yet to be delivered.
The airline's CEO, Tony Douglas, stated that he had expected to receive the first fully equipped aircraft by now. However, Boeing forecasts that the initial delivery will not take place before July this year, leaving room for potential further delays.
"Like other airlines relying on Boeing deliveries, we’ve had to adjust our expectations multiple times based on the most recent forecasts," Douglas told The Telegraph. He also admitted that while confidence exists in the new estimated date, "it's far from being a risk-free process."
Impact on Boeing
The delay in delivering the Dreamliners highlights broader challenges faced by Boeing. In 2024, the manufacturer delivered only 348 aircraft, significantly fewer than the 528 in 2023 and less than half the volume achieved by Airbus during the same period.
According to Aeroin, key reasons for these delays include a strike in Puget Sound that halted the production of models such as the 737, 767, and 777, as well as increased quality oversight on the Charleston, South Carolina, assembly line, where the 787 Dreamliners are manufactured.
While awaiting final deliveries, Riyadh Air recently received a technical Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. This aircraft, painted in the airline's official colors, will be used for crew training and certification flights, but it lacks the luxurious interiors planned for its final product.
Douglas revealed that the airline has "extremely aggressive" expansion plans, aiming to serve 100 destinations from its Riyadh base in the coming years. Unlike competitors such as Emirates and Qatar Airways, Riyadh Air will focus on high-net-worth passengers traveling on direct routes, diverging from the international hub-and-spoke model.
Although details of the onboard experience remain undisclosed, Douglas promised that further information would be announced soon. Riyadh Air continues to play a critical role in Saudi Arabia's strategy to diversify its economy and strengthen its aviation industry.
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