Riyadh Air now has 31 Airbus A350-1000s on firm order: what it means for its new network

Riyadh Air, the new Saudi airline that began commercial flights this year, has put six more Airbus A350-1000s on firm order. The deal was signed at the Farnborough Airshow and set out in Airbus's announcement on July 20, 2026. It lifts the airline's firm commitment for the type to 31 aircraft, part of a larger agreement for up to 50 that the two companies first announced in 2025.

The release is a few months old now. It still matters for travelers, because it fixes the size of Riyadh Air's long-haul fleet and signals how far from Riyadh the airline plans to fly. Airbus says Riyadh Air will be the first airline in Saudi Arabia to operate the A350-1000.

What was ordered

• Six more A350-1000s, firmed up from the 2025 agreement.
• 31 A350-1000s now on firm order, out of a commitment for up to 50.
• The first Saudi operator of the type, according to Airbus.

The release does not give a delivery date for the first A350-1000, and it does not describe the cabins. Riyadh Air has not said either, as far as we can find. We could not reach the airline's newsroom when we checked.

Adam Boukadida, Riyadh Air's chief financial officer, said in the release that the larger commitment "strengthens the foundation of our future network and supports our ambition to serve more than 100 global destinations by 2030."

Airbus lists the A350's range at up to 9,700 nautical miles. That is enough to connect Riyadh with the US West Coast, South America or Australia without a stop. Riyadh Air has not announced any of those routes. But the choice of airplane tells you the kind of network it is building: long, far and premium-heavy.

Where Riyadh Air flies today

Riyadh Air's current fleet is the Boeing 787-9, and its first scheduled routes link Riyadh with London Heathrow and a handful of cities in the Gulf, Europe and Egypt. The airline publishes its current route list and start dates on its own site, and that list has been changing month by month as new jets arrive. Riyadh Air has said its 787 fleet could eventually reach up to 72 aircraft.

None of those early routes needs an A350-1000. The 787-9 covers Europe, the Gulf and India with room to spare. The A350-1000 is a larger airplane with more range, the type an airline buys for North America, East Asia and Australia. Riyadh Air has also said it has a commitment for 60 Airbus A321neos for shorter routes. Between the three types, the airline has the tools to reach its 100-destination target. What it has not done is name the long-haul cities.

The cabins so far

Riyadh Air has described a four-cabin layout for its 787-9: Business Elite, Business Class, Premium Economy and Economy. The airline's own materials describe Business Elite as suites with privacy doors and fully flat beds, with a standard business cabin, premium economy and economy behind it. Riyadh Air has not published seat counts for any cabin.

Whether all four cabins carry over to the A350-1000 is an open question. Riyadh Air has not said. Other airlines have used the A350 to move premium products around their networks: Emirates brought Premium Economy to Orlando on the type, and KLM's first A350 went to Toronto. Expect Riyadh Air to announce the cabin well before the first jet arrives.

Where to wait at Riyadh

This is the gap. Lounge Frog does not yet list King Khalid International Airport (RUH) or any lounge there, and Riyadh Air has not announced a lounge of its own at its home airport. If you are flying Riyadh Air in Business Elite or Business Class from Riyadh, the airline has not said which lounge you get. We will add RUH to the directory as that picture becomes clearer.

RUH is also a hub for Saudia. At the Jeddah end of Riyadh Air's first domestic route, the directory lists two options at King Abdulaziz International Airport. The Saudia AlFursan Lounge in Terminal 1 opened in 2021, holds 450 people and rates 3.7 overall, with top marks for food and coffee and a weak score for Wi-Fi. It is for Saudia premium passengers and SkyTeam Elite Plus members, so it will not help a Riyadh Air ticket holder. The Plaza Premium Lounge in international departures takes Priority Pass and is the realistic choice for anyone on Riyadh Air with a lounge card.

At Heathrow, Riyadh Air departs from Terminal 4. The Plaza Premium Lounge (T4) rates 4.9 in the directory and takes Priority Pass, LoungeKey and DragonPass. The Saudia Lounge is also at Heathrow, but it is Saudia's and rates 2.3.

What to watch

Three things would turn this order from a fleet note into travel news. First, a delivery date for the first A350-1000. Second, the cabin plan, and whether Business Elite carries over to the Airbus. Third, a Riyadh Air lounge at RUH, or a deal with an existing one. Airbus's July release answers none of them. We will update this story when the airline does.