Riyadh Air plans to fly to more than 100 destinations & reach 100 million visitors by 2030, says the airline (Photo: arabnews)
Within a few weeks of the announcement of its launch, Saudi Arabia’s latest national carrier Riyadh Air has already taken several steps to launch its commercial operations rapidly.
The airline has already announced a deal for 39 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft. The airline, which is also present at the ongoing Paris Air Show, has now announced a deal for the engines to be fitted on the Dreamliners.
According to a press statement, Riyadh Air has signed a deal for 90 GEnx-1B engines to power its new fleet. The order also includes spare engines and a TrueChoice services agreement.
The statement adds that the agreement was signed at the Paris Air Show, at the Riyadh Air chalet where the airline revealed its new livery to the world following a flyby last week over Riyadh’s skyline.
Tony Douglas
“The agreement highlights our determination to significantly extend Saudi Arabia’s connectivity with the world and fulfil our goal of connecting to 100 destinations by 2030. We look forward to fostering strong strategic relationships within the wider aviation ecosystem as we continue to shape our new digitally native airline to become one of the most sustainable and guest- centric carriers in the world,” says Tony Douglas, Chief Executive Officer of Riyadh Air.
“We are proud to partner with Riyadh Air to support its new fleet and fulfil its vision for long international routes. GE Aerospace’s GEnx engine is a perfect fit for the 787 fleet with its combination of power and the ability to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions,” says Russell Stokes, President& CEO, Commercial Engines and Services for GE Aerospace.
The statement adds that the first deliveries are scheduled for early 2025 as Riyadh Air aims to operate one of the newest and most sustainable airline fleets in the world. It says that the GEnx engine family has nearly 50 million flight hours since entry into service in 2011 and is the fastest-selling, high-thrust engine in GE history with nearly 3,000 engines in service and on backlog, including spares.
It says that the GEnx-1B powers two out of every three 787 aircraft in service. The engine also provides a 1.4 pc fuel burn savings for the typical 787 mission compared to its competition, equating to USD 300,000 per airplane per year in fuel savings. The added fuel savings enables reducing carbon emissions of each aircraft by over 1,000 tonnes per year. Representing a giant step forward in propulsion technology, GEnx uses lightweight, durable materials and advanced design processes to reduce weight, improve performance, and lower maintenance, making it the best engine choice for long-haul flights.
Riyadh Air plans to fly to more than 100 destinations, and reach 100 million visitors, by 2030 making Riyadh City a hub for global travel and encouraging visits to the Kingdom for business and leisure. The airline will bring a new level of attention to detail to guest experience and has technology that will raise the bar for the industry.
