Riyadh Air’s fleet of Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft are to be powered by GEnx engines, after the carrier and GE Aerospace reached an agreement at the 2023 Paris Air Show.
Riyadh Air has signed a deal for 90 GEnx-1B engines to cover the 39 Dreamliners it has on order, plus a small stockpile of spares.
The agreement was signed on Wednesday 21, 2023, at the Riyadh Air chalet. It was here thar the airline revealed its new livery to the world following a flyby last week over Riyadh’s iconic city skyline.
“The agreement highlights our determination to significantly extend Saudi Arabia’s connectivity with the world and fulfill 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,” Tony Douglas, Chief Executive Officer of Riyadh Air said.
Riyadh Air’s Dreamliners are expected to arrive in early 2025, with the option for a further 33 Boeing 787-9s.
Russell Stokes, president & CEO of Commercial Engines and Services for GE Aerospace, said: “We are proud to partner with Riyadh Air to support its new fleet and fulfill 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.”
The GEnx engine family powers two out of every three 787 aircraft in service. It has clocked up nearly 50 million flight hours since entry into service in 2011.