Boeing and Saudia, Saudi Arabia’s national airline, have celebrated the triple delivery of two B787-9 Dreamliners and a B777-300ER (Extended Range). A third Dreamliner will be delivered to Saudia within the next week. The airline ordered eight B787-9s in 2010.
Saudia is no stranger to such large deliveries. In December 1999, Boeing delivered three B777s to Saudia.
“The delivery of our first Dreamliners marks yet another exciting chapter in Saudia’s long-standing relationship with Boeing that began in the early 1960s,” said His Excellency Eng. Saleh bin Nasser al-Jasser, Director-General, Saudi Arabian Airlines. “With its reputation for reliability, operational efficiency and comfort, we now look forward to the 787 becoming an integral addition to Saudia’s fleet as we continue our fleet modernisation and expansion as part of our transformation plans.”
The airline will now have 48 Boeing aircraft in its fleet that currently include 777-200ERs, 777-300ERs and 747-400s. Over the past 55 years, Saudia has taken delivery of over 130 Boeing aircraft including 707s, 737s, MD-11Fs, DC-9s and MD90s.
“This delivery to Saudia is an outstanding moment in a partnership that has grown phenomenally over the past several decades,” said Ray Conner, Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and Chief Executive. “Today, we are proud not only to have Saudia join our growing base of 787 customers in the Middle East, but also at the airline’s continued confidence in Boeing’s technology and airplanes over the years.”
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is an all-new, super-efficient family of commercial aircraft that brings big-jet ranges and speed to the middle of the market. In response to airlines’ preference, Boeing designed the 787 family with superior efficiency, which allows airlines to profitably open new routes to fly people directly where they would like to go in exceptional comfort.
Since entering service in 2011, the 787 family is flying more than 350 routes and has established more than 75 new nonstop routes around the world.
More than 60 customers – including Saudia – from around the world have placed orders for more than 1,000 aircraft, making the B787 Dreamliner the fastest selling twin-aisle aircraft in Boeing history.
