Riyadh Air launch pushed to Q3 after first Boeing 787 jet delivery delayed

Riyadh Air will receive its first Boeing 787-9 aircraft from the US plane maker later than scheduled this year, delaying the start-up airline's debut.

The carrier will get its first wide-body jet in the third quarter of this year, with the first flight to launch shortly afterwards, it said on Thursday. The airline had originally planned to start operations in the middle of the year.

“The arrival of the first B787-9 will allow operations to commence as soon as possible, and we remain in close contact with our colleagues at Boeing with the aim to receive delivery of a number of aircraft later this year,” an airline official said.

“Major parts of the first aircraft are already prepared for final assembly and given well-known global supply chain challenges, we expect delivery to start in Q3, facilitating the start of operations soon after.”

The airline expects to receive its air operator certificate from the regulator in “the coming weeks”, while more than 60 cabin crew and pilots have already been hired. Riyadh Air will reveal its aircraft cabins and product offerings in the “coming months”, it said.

Riyadh Air has previously said that it has received commitments from Boeing for timely delivery of its first aircraft, as the start-up does not have the option to operate older or leased planes.

However, the US plane maker has been struggling to deliver on time due to strikes and production problems. About 33,000 workers at two major plants went on a seven-week strike in September that crippled most of Boeing's production.

“We continue to work closely with Riyadh Air on their delivery schedule and look forward to supporting Riyadh’s inaugural operations,” a Boeing representative told The National.

Over the past few years, a series of crises have gripped Boeing, which is now working towards rebuilding trust with passengers and regulators, nearly a year after a door panel blew off during an Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9 flight. That sparked a leadership shake-up and deliveries plunged 35 per cent in 2024 as production was restricted to resolve quality issues.

“We remain focused on executing our production rate plans to meet strong demand for the 787 Dreamliner family, and we continue to work closely with all our 787 customers on the specific timing of their deliveries,” the Boeing representative said.

In the months following the mid-air panel blowout incident, Boeing worked to tackle defective parts from suppliers.

Airlines worldwide have been facing faltering supply chains and shortages of parts including seats, cabins and galleys, worsening production and delivery delays.

The International Air Transport Association (Iata) forecast last month that severe supply chain issues would continue to affect airlines into 2025, raising costs and limiting growth.

Willie Walsh, Iata's director general, said earlier this month that airlines were missing out on opportunities to better serve customers and modernise their products owing to aircraft not being delivered on time.

“The 2025 New Year’s resolution for the aerospace manufacturing sector must be finding a fast and durable solution for their supply chain issues,” he said.