Riyadh Air’s first Boeing 787-9 completes initial test flight

Riyadh Air’s first new 787-9 Dreamliner completed its initial test flight at Boeing’s final assembly site in Charleston, South Carolina. The flight was conducted by Boeing test pilots and forms part of the manufacturer’s standard pre-delivery certification process.

The aircraft will now proceed through additional test and inspection phases before being formally handed over to the airline. Boeing routinely performs these flights to verify aircraft systems and flight characteristics ahead of customer acceptance.

The test flight comes as Riyadh Air moves closer to the start of commercial operations. On April 7, the airline received its Air Operator’s Certificate from Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation, allowing it to begin passenger services.

Ahead of its full launch, the carrier has already carried out limited operational activity. On October 26, 2025, Riyadh Air operated its first scheduled flight between Riyadh and London Heathrow using a leased Boeing 787-9. The service was limited to employees and invited guests and was used to validate operational processes.

Riyadh Air’s fleet plans continue to take shape alongside aircraft deliveries. In June, the airline displayed an Airbus A321neo at a public event and the carrier has also placed firm orders for 25 Airbus A350-1000 aircraft, with options for a further 25 units.

The airline plans to operate as a global network carrier based in Riyadh, following a model similar to that of Emirates Airline. It intends to use the Saudi capital as a long-haul hub, taking advantage of its geographic position between Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas, comparable to the roles played by Dubai and Doha in international aviation.

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Ricardo Meier

Creator of the website that started in 1996 as a magazine. He also writes on Brazilian websites AUTOO, MOTOO and MetrôCPTM.

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