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Boeing Co. announced several dozen commitments and order changes for its locally based 787 Dreamliner program on July 20 to help kick off the Farnborough International Airshow.
The early round of dealmaking outside London included Riyadh Air’s decision to buy 28 widebodies that were classified as options in an 2023 order.
The Saudi Arabia-based carrier also is converting 20 Dreamliners from the previous agreement to the stretch 787-10 version, which can fly farther and carry more passengers than the two other models.
Financial terms were not disclosed.
"The commitment … marks another significant milestone in Riyadh Air's journey toward over 100 international destinations by 2030," CEO Tony Douglas said in prepared statement.
The July 20 announcement also included 11 Dreamliners for the Mideast startup that were previously attributed to an unidentified customer.
Riyadh Air was created in early 2023 by Saudi’s sovereign wealth fund to help diversify the oil-rich kingdom’s economy by expanding its tourism industry. The startup Mideast carrier is on track to grow its 787 fleet to 67 jets from six, including firm orders and purchase options.
Passengers have been “hugely impressed” with the Dreamliner’s onboard experience, Douglas said.
Separately, Philippine Airlines said at the U.K. airshow that it has committed to buy at least 15 787-10 jets and up to five more as part of a fleet modernization and expansion plan. The agreement has not yet been finalized as a firm order for Boeing.
"This investment manifests our confidence in the future of Philippine Airlines and the continued growth of air travel,” said Lucio Tan III, president and chief operating officer of the carrier’s parent company.
The 787-10 can carry as many as 375 passengers and fly up to 7,500 nautical miles.
Boeing and European rival Airbus often show up at the biennial Farnborough and Paris air shows with new aircraft orders in their back pockets, though the U.S. manufacturer took a low profile last summer following the first fatal crash of a 787 in India. The cause is still being investigated.
Among other deals announced Monday, Irish leasing company SMBC Aviation Capital led the way with an order for 100 Boeing 737 Max jets. Riyadh Air mixed in six Airbus A350-1000 widebodies with its 787-10 commitment.
"My view would be that there seems to be a bit of a continual boom in commercial orders. What the numbers will be, I don't know,” Farnborough International CEO Gareth Rogers told Reuters.
Boeing has built all three Dreamliner models exclusively at its South Carolina factory for more than five years. The company is aiming to increase its monthly production rate in North Charleston to 10 jets by the end of the year. It’s also investing $1 billion to build a second assembly line and hiring 1,000 workers to meet the demand.
Orders roared back to life in 2025, when airlines and other customers lined up to buy 368 Dreamliners compared to 63 in 2024.
The unfilled order backlog for the 787 program was up to 1,145 planes as of July 14.
