Following swiftly on from Riyadh Air’s announcement at the Paris Air Show 2025 that it had placed orders for up to 50 Airbus A350-1000s, the nascent carrier has now announced that it has secured a deal with British engine maker Rolls-Royce for engines to power the new fleet of widebodies.
Saudi Arabian startup Riyadh Air placed an order for up to 50 Airbus A350-1000s on Day One at the Paris Air Show on June 16, 2025. The agreement included 25 firm orders with purchase rights for an additional 25 aircraft and added to the existing 132 aircraft Riyadh Air already has on order.
On June 17, 2025, the carrier signed a deal at the air show with Rolls-Royce for 50 Trent XWB-97 engines to power its new fleet of Airbus A350-1000s. The agreement was signed by Adam Boukadida, Chief Financial Officer of Riyadh Air, and Rob Watson, President of Civil Aerospace at Rolls-Royce, in the presence of Tony Douglas, Riyadh Air’s Chief Executive Officer, and Tufan Erginbilgic, Rolls-Royce’s Chief Executive Officer.
At the same time the engine deal was signed, a Memorandum of Understanding was also signed for Rolls-Royce’s comprehensive ‘TotalCare’ service that will cover the health and maintenance of the new engines. “The Trent XWB-97 engine is the world’s most efficient large aero-engine, specifically designed for the Airbus A350-1000 and will help fulfil Riyadh Air’s ambitions to fly to over 100 global destinations by 2030,” said the airline.
“The A350-1000 aircraft, to be powered by the Trent XWB-97 engines, will help grow Riyadh Air’s network to the furthest corners of the globe, adding range and capacity that will ensure that Riyadh, a G20 capital city, will be fully connected to the world, realizing the goals of Saudi Vision 2030. Having secured its Air Operators Certificate (AOC) earlier in 2025, Riyadh Air is making considerable progress as it moves closer to its maiden flight later in 2025, added an airline statement.
Riyadh Air’s CFO, Adam Boukadida said: “The growth of Riyadh Air is of critical importance to the development of Saudi Arabia as an aviation hub, and selecting world-class companies like Rolls-Royce to power our future Airbus large wide-body fleet ensures we have the right partners in place to achieve our ambitions. This deal for 50 Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines to power our fleet of Airbus A350-1000 aircraft is hugely significant as it brings us closer to realizing our long-term vision of enhanced connectivity for Riyadh.”
“Our goal is to deliver an unrivalled guest experience, linked to a world-class network and provide our guests with unlimited options to fly direct to major global cities,” he added.
Rolls-Royce’s view
“We’re looking forward to supporting the significant growth ambitions of Riyadh Air in its launch year,” commented Rob Watson, President, Civil Aerospace at Rolls-Royce. “The Trent XWB-97 is an incredible engine, and our TotalCare package will provide operational certainty across the fleet. The engine will benefit from the £1 billion ($1.3bn) investment we’re making to the Trent engine family that improves their durability and efficiency across all operations. We look forward to supporting these new aircraft as they enter service.”
According to the airline, “this collaboration underscores Riyadh Air’s dedication to innovation, comfort, and world-class service, enhancing every aspect of the travel experience for its guests. Riyadh Air continues to redefine premium travel, driven by a mission to connect the world to Saudi Arabia’s hospitality and vision for the future.”
The new carrier said it had selected the Airbus A350-1000 to “further optimize its fleet, capacity and operations, while minimizing the number of aircraft types in the fleet”. The airline expects to serve over 100 destinations around the globe by 2030.
AeroTime editors and journalists are on the ground at the Paris Air Show 2025, covering all the latest and biggest breaking news stories at this year’s event.
