“Riyadh Air Takes Flight at Paris Air Show with Major Order for 100 Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 Engines!”

Riyadh Air, the emerging national airline of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, has today formalized a contract at the 55th Edition of the Paris Air Show at Le Bourget with Rolls-Royce for 100 Trent XWB-97 engines to support its fleet of as many as 50 Airbus A350-1000, following an announcement made yesterday.

The contract was executed by Adam Boukadida, Chief Financial Officer of Riyadh Air, alongside Ewen McDonald, Chief Customer Officer at Rolls-Royce, in the presence of Tony Douglas, CEO of Riyadh Air, and Rob Watson, President of Civil Aerospace at Rolls-Royce.

Concurrently, a Memorandum of Understanding was also established for Rolls-Royce’s extensive TotalCare service, which will oversee the performance and upkeep of the engines. The Trent XWB-97 engine is recognized as the globe’s most efficient large aero-engine, expressly crafted for the Airbus A350-1000, and will aid Riyadh Air in its objective to serve over 100 international destinations by 2030. The airline, which currently has fleet orders totaling up to 182 aircraft across three different fleet categories, is scheduled to commence its operations later in 2025.

The A350-1000 aircraft, powered by the Trent XWB-97 engines, will facilitate the expansion of Riyadh Air’s network to distant regions across the globe, enhancing range and capacity to ensure that Riyadh, a G20 capital city, remains thoroughly connected worldwide, realizing the aspirations of Saudi Vision 2030. Having received its Air Operators Certificate (AOC) earlier in 2025, Riyadh Air is making remarkable strides as it approaches its inaugural flight later this year.

Adam Boukadida, CFO of Riyadh Air, stated: “The expansion of Riyadh Air is vital for the progression of Saudi Arabia as an aviation center, and partnering with premier companies like Rolls-Royce to power our future Airbus large wide-body fleet guarantees we have exemplary partners to fulfill our ambitions. This agreement for 100 Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines to elevate our Airbus A350-1000 fleet is immensely crucial as it brings us closer to achieving our long-term vision of enhanced global connectivity for Riyadh. Our mission is to provide an unparalleled guest experience tied to a world-class network and grant our guests infinite opportunities to fly direct to major global cities.”

Rob Watson, President of Civil Aerospace at Rolls-Royce, remarked: “We’re eager to support Riyadh Air’s significant growth plans in its inaugural year. The Trent XWB-97 is an exceptional engine, and our TotalCare package will ensure operational consistency across the fleet. The engine will benefit from the £1bn investment we’re committing to the Trent engine family, which enhances their longevity and efficiency across all operations. We anticipate supporting these new aircraft as they prepare for service.”

This partnership highlights Riyadh Air’s commitment to innovation, comfort, and superior service, amplifying every dimension of the travel experience for its passengers. Riyadh Air is continuously redefining premium travel, propelled by a mission to connect the world to Saudi Arabia’s hospitality and future vision.