Riyadh Air Debuts Indigo Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner

Riyadh Air has unveiled its first indigo-colored Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, marking a significant milestone as the aircraft emerged from Boeing’s paint facility in Charleston, South Carolina. The carrier describes the livery as inspired by "spring desert blooms and Arabic calligraphy," with plans to apply this distinctive design to approximately every tenth aircraft in its fleet.

Tony Douglas, CEO of Riyadh Air, expressed pride in seeing the aircraft complete its painting process. He highlighted how the indigo livery reinforces the airline’s brand identity with a striking presence at airports worldwide. The livery is part of Riyadh Air’s dual-livery strategy, which also includes a pearlescent white design introduced in 2023.

The airline has not yet confirmed a delivery date for the indigo-liveried Dreamliner, but it is now ready to enter the testing phase ahead of commercial service. CEO Tony Douglas noted that the aircraft reflects a modern, confident Saudi identity and marks another milestone as the airline has grown to 10 aircraft and 15 destinations in less than four months.

Riyadh Air is expanding its fleet with orders for Boeing 787 Dreamliners, Airbus A350-1000s, and Airbus A321neo aircraft. The carrier recently exercised options for 28 additional Boeing 787 Dreamliners and firmed up orders for six more Airbus A350-1000 aircraft. All aircraft will be powered by Rolls-Royce XWB-97 engines, supporting the airline’s international growth ambitions and Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 objectives.