Boeing lands up to 148 jet orders at Farnborough Airshow

The UK’s Farnborough International Airshow is paying off for Boeing with orders for as many as 148 new planes on the first day of the annual event. Up to 48 of those planes will be built at the company’s North Charleston assembly site.

Riyadh Air, the new national carrier of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is exercising options for 28 more 787 Dreamliner jets. The carrier and Boeing had announced in 2023 a deal for 39 787-9s with options for an additional 33. Today’s joint announcement says the airline is exercising options for 28 more 787 Dreamliner jets and will exercise most of the options from the 2023 order, including the conversion of 20 airplanes to the larger 787-10 variant.

The announcement includes a previously unidentified purchase of 11 of the ultra-efficient widebody jets. Once the remaining 17 airplanes are finalized, Riyadh Air’s firm order count will grow to 67 Dreamliners, according to the news release.

“The commitment to firm up an additional 28 787 Dreamliners and introduce the 787-10 marks another significant milestone in Riyadh Air’s journey toward over 100 international destinations by 2030, a key part of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 ambitions,” Tony Douglas, CEO of Riyadh Air, said in the news release. “Following the recent launch of full operations, guests have been hugely impressed with the Riyadh Air experience onboard our current fleet of six Boeing 787 jets. The addition of the 787-10 strengthens our ability to accommodate growing passenger and cargo demand while providing the operational flexibility required to support our ambitious network plans.”

By operating the 787-9 and 787-10, Riyadh Air will benefit from fleet commonality, including shared flight deck systems, maintenance procedures and pilot training, helping deliver operational efficiencies, the release stated.

The 787 Dreamliner family features the largest windows of any commercial airplane, higher cabin humidity, lower cabin altitude pressurization and advanced turbulence-sensing technology, all designed to enhance passenger comfort, according to Boeing.

“We are delighted to see Riyadh Air flying their new 787 airplanes in commercial service and we are deeply honored they are placing orders for additional 787 Dreamliner aircraft to support their future,” said Stephanie Pope, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, in the release. “The 787-10 will be a great complement to Riyadh Air’s growing fleet and advance the airline’s mission to be a world-class airline that delivers an exceptional passenger experience.”

Philippine Airlines, meanwhile, announced a commitment to order up to 20 787 Dreamliner jets. Once finalized, the agreement for 15 787-10 airplanes, with opportunity to purchase five more, will support Philippine Airlines’ fleet modernization and expansion plans, the release said.

“This investment manifests our confidence in the future of Philippine Airlines and the continued growth of air travel,” Lucio C. Tan III, president and chief operating officer of PAL Holdings Inc., said in the release. “The Boeing 787-10 will strengthen our medium and long-haul fleet, allowing us to provide an even better travel experience for our customers while improving operational efficiency and supporting our long-term sustainability goals. As Asia’s first and longest serving airline, we proudly celebrated our 85th anniversary earlier this year. An equally meaningful milestone that we celebrate this year is 80 years of partnership between Philippine Airlines and Boeing.”

The 787-10 will complement PAL’s fleet of 10 777 jets by expanding operational flexibility across the airline’s medium- and long-haul route network. Delivering unmatched fuel efficiency with the lowest operating cost per seat of any widebody jet, the 787’s composite design yields 25% less fuel use than the airplanes it typically replaces.

“Philippine Airlines’ selection of the 787 Dreamliner marks an important step forward in our partnership, one that spans 80 years,” Pope said. “We’re grateful for PAL’s trust in Boeing, and our team looks forward to delivering advanced-technology airplanes that deepen connections across the Philippines, Asia and beyond.”

Also at the Farnborough show, Boeing announced an order from SMBC Aviation Capital for 100 737 Max jets. Those plans are assembled in the state of Washington.