Riyadh Air's first A321neo emerges ahead of Paris Air Show
The first A321neo from new carrier Riyadh Air has been spotted ready at Airbus’ Hamburg facility.
The aircraft, which has the provisional registration F-WWBZ, has been shown in some images by the Saudi carrier itself, which has announced its early display at the Paris Air Show, which starts on June 16.
The plane in the image is believed to be an A321XLR, an ultra-long-range variant of the narrow-body jet that can fly up to 4,700 nm (8,700 km).
Created by state investment funds, Riyadh Air aims to establish itself as a global carrier based at its hub in Saudi Arabia.
https://twitter.com/Tobias_Gudat/status/1931967419523748210
It intends to compete with the so-called “ME3”, a nickname that brings together the three major Middle Eastern airlines, Emirates Airline, Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways.
The initial fleet included 60 A321neo and 72 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, which are expected to make their debut flights from the end of the year.
So far, Riyadh Air has only one leased 787, which is used for training and also during the process of obtaining the Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC).
The presence of an aircraft in Riyadh Air livery at Le Bourget will not be unprecedented. In 2024, another 787-9 was on display with Boeing displaying the airline’s launch livery.
This aircraft was later transferred to TAAG, from Angola.
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