Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Air, the airline backed by the county’s Public Investment Fund, has ordered up to 72 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft in a multi-billion dollar deal.

The order is unprecedented for a new airline and highlights Saudi Arabia’s ambition to become a major aviation hub.

The order comprises 39 confirmed aircraft plus another 33 wide-bodied 787-9 Dreamliners. It comes as Saudi Arabia’s national carriers announced their intent to order up to 121 aircraft in total, representing the fifth-largest commercial order by value in Boeing’s history.

The huge Boeing order will help to shuttle a projected 330 million passengers by 2030. His Excellency Yasir Al-Rumayyan, Governor of the PIF and Chairman of Riyadh Air, applauded the move, saying, “This is a momentous day for PIF and Riyadh Air, and highlights our determination to significantly extend Saudi Arabia’s connectivity with the world”.

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Riyadh Air is a digital-first airline committed to sustainability, in line with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 toward net zero emissions. The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner is manufactured to achieve lower CO2 emissions, greater fuel efficiency, and pass stringent noise regulations.