Riyadh Air Eyes Boeing Jets Dropped by Chinese Airlines

Riyadh Air is open to acquiring Boeing aircraft originally intended for Chinese airlines but rejected due to escalating U.S.-China trade tensions. CEO Tony Douglas told Reuters on April 28 that the airline has expressed interest in taking the jets if they become available.

In a separate interview with Bloomberg, Douglas emphasized that while tariffs have not yet impacted aviation cost structures—jet fuel remains the largest expense—the situation could change quickly. “What we’ve done is made it clear to Boeing that should these aircraft become available, we’ll happily take them all,” he said.

China recently directed its airlines to halt deliveries from Boeing, leaving the manufacturer with dozens of undelivered aircraft. Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg confirmed that around 50 jets were initially scheduled for delivery to China in 2025. He stated that if Chinese customers decline the orders, Boeing is prepared to reallocate the aircraft to other interested buyers, citing strong global demand for the 737 MAX.

Riyadh Air, which currently operates a single Boeing 787-9 for testing, has 39 more on order ahead of its official launch in Q4 2025. The airline also plans to add 60 Airbus A321-200Ns and is considering a third widebody type. Douglas indicated a new widebody order could be announced by summer.

The airline recently secured its air operator’s certificate and aims to build a fleet of three distinct aircraft types to support its long-term expansion as part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 strategy to become a global aviation hub.

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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com