Saudi Arabian startup carrier Riyadh Air (RX) has expanded its future widebody fleet by firming up an order for six additional Airbus A350-1000 aircraft at the Farnborough International Airshow on July 20, 2026. The agreement exercises purchase rights from a 2025 commitment for up to 50 airframes, bringing the airline’s total firm backlog for the European manufacturer’s largest twin-engine jet to 31 aircraft.

In a press release issued during the airshow, Airbus confirmed the transaction and noted that Riyadh Air will become the first operator of the A350-1000 in Saudi Arabia. The acquisition aligns with the carrier’s mandate to support the national Vision 2030 strategy, which targets serving more than 100 global destinations by the end of the decade.

Expanding the Airbus widebody footprint

The Airbus A350-1000 offers a maximum non-stop range of 9,700 nautical miles (18,000 kilometers), providing the operational capability required for Riyadh Air’s planned ultra-long-haul services. Airbus states the aircraft delivers a 25 percent advantage in fuel burn, operating costs, and carbon emissions compared to previous-generation widebody aircraft.

Riyadh Air Chief Financial Officer Adam Boukadida stated that the finalized order reflects continued confidence in the airline’s growth trajectory and the broader Saudi aviation sector.

“Increasing our A350-1000 commitment to 31 aircraft strengthens the foundation of our future network and supports our ambition to serve more than 100 global destinations by 2030 while delivering a premium guest experience,” Boukadida said.

Airbus Executive Vice President of Sales for Commercial-Aircraft Benoît de Saint-Exupéry added that the commitment highlights the aircraft’s efficiency and range. He noted the A350-1000 will play a central role in positioning Saudi Arabia as a leading international aviation hub. As of the end of June 2026, Airbus had recorded 1,595 firm Orders for the A350 family from 68 customers worldwide.

Concurrent Boeing 787 Dreamliner expansion

The Airbus finalization occurred alongside a separate widebody order placed with The Boeing Company. According to reporting by Al Arabiya, Riyadh Air also confirmed an order for 28 additional Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft at the Farnborough event on July 20.

This separate agreement introduces the Boeing 787-10 variant to the carrier’s fleet. Following the announcement, Riyadh Air’s total firm commitment for the Dreamliner family stands at 67 aircraft.

Riyadh Air Chief Executive Officer Tony Douglas told Al Arabiya that the introduction of the 787-10 and the expanded Dreamliner backlog marks another significant milestone in the airline’s journey toward its 2030 network goals. The carrier recently opened ticket sales for its initial overseas routes as it prepares for the launch of commercial operations.

AirPro News analysis

We view Riyadh Air’s dual widebody orders at Farnborough as a clear signal of the carrier’s aggressive timeline and robust capital backing. By splitting its high-capacity, long-haul requirements between the Airbus A350-1000 and the Boeing 787-10, the airline mitigates delivery risk in an era of constrained aerospace supply chains. Securing 31 firm A350-1000s and 67 Boeing 787s provides the necessary metal to rapidly scale a global network from scratch. However, the operational complexity of inducting two distinct widebody types simultaneously will require substantial training, tooling, and maintenance infrastructure investments prior to the Launch of commercial flights.

Sources: Airbus

Aircraft lessor SMBC Aviation Capital secured a massive dual-manufacturer commitment at the Farnborough International Airshow on July 20, 2026, placing firm orders for 100 Airbus A320neo family aircraft and 100 Boeing 737 MAX jets.

The 200-aircraft acquisition guarantees the lessor a steady stream of narrowbody deliveries into the mid-2030s. This strategic move comes as the broader aviation industry continues to grapple with persistent supply-chain bottlenecks that have constrained production rates at both major airframers.

Airbus narrowbody commitments

In a press release issued during the airshow, Airbus confirmed the firm order consists of 65 Airbus A321neo and 35 Airbus A320neo aircraft. The agreement pushes the total number of direct Airbus commitments from SMBC Aviation Capital and its parent company, Sumitomo Corporation, past 900 aircraft.

Airbus Executive Vice President of Sales for Commercial Aircraft Benoît de Saint-Exupéry highlighted the long-standing relationship between the manufacturer and the lessor.

“We are honoured to stand with SMBC Aviation Capital as they place this order for additional A320neo family aircraft, the world’s most leased and most traded aircraft making it the benchmark for airlines, lessors and investors alike,” de Saint-Exupéry stated.

Boeing 737 MAX and CFM engine agreements

Concurrently, SMBC Aviation Capital announced a matching commitment with Boeing for 100 narrowbody aircraft. The lessor’s official statement detailed a split of 60 Boeing 737 MAX 10 and 40 Boeing 737 MAX 8 jets.

To power the newly ordered Airbus fleet, SMBC Aviation Capital also secured an agreement for up to 90 CFM International LEAP-1A engines.

SMBC Aviation Capital Chief Executive Officer Peter Barrett emphasized the necessity of securing long-term availability for the company’s airline clients.

“This significant new order will give our airline customers access to a continuous delivery pipeline of the latest technology A320neo family aircraft into the mid-2030s,” Barrett said.

He added that the order reflects the lessor’s confidence in the sustained demand for the A320neo family. Deliveries for the newly ordered Airbus aircraft are expected to commence in the first half of the 2030s.

AirPro News analysis

We view SMBC Aviation Capital’s balanced 200-aircraft acquisition as a direct response to the current manufacturing environment. By splitting the order evenly between the Airbus A320neo family and the Boeing 737 MAX, the lessor is effectively hedging its delivery risks. Industry reporting from the 2026 Farnborough International Airshow indicates that total dealmaking may fall short of the ambitious 800-aircraft expectations held by some analysts, largely due to ongoing production bottlenecks at both Airbus and Boeing.

In an environment where near-term delivery slots are virtually nonexistent, securing a pipeline that stretches into the mid-2030s is critical for major lessors. Airline customers are increasingly reliant on lessors to provide capacity growth and fleet renewal options when direct manufacturer orders face multi-year backlogs. The inclusion of 60 Boeing 737 MAX 10s and 65 Airbus A321neos also underscores a continued market shift toward the largest variants of both narrowbody families, maximizing seat capacity in slot-constrained airports.

Sources: Airbus

Philippine Airlines (PAL) has selected the Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner to anchor its future widebody fleet, announcing a commitment for up to 20 of the aircraft on July 20, 2026, at the Farnborough International Airshow. The agreement includes 15 firm commitments and five purchase options, marking the largest widebody order in the 85-year history of the carrier.

In a press release issued by The Boeing Company, the manufacturer confirmed the selection will support the airline’s fleet modernization and expansion strategy. The 787-10s are slated to replace older widebody aircraft, increasing capacity on medium- and long-haul routes while reducing fuel consumption by 25 percent compared to the jets they will replace.

Fleet modernization and delivery timeline

The new Boeing 787-10s will replace roughly equal numbers of Boeing 777-300ERs and Airbus A330-300s currently operating in the Philippine Airlines fleet, according to reporting by Aviation Week. Deliveries of the new Dreamliners are scheduled to begin in 2031 and continue through the early to mid-2030s.

Aviation Week reported that Philippine Airlines CEO Richard Nuttall noted the 2031 delivery timeline aligns with the lifecycle of the carrier’s current widebody assets.

“If you look at our current medium-haul and long-haul aircraft, they gradually get to the end of their second 12-year period in that time,” Nuttall said.

The 787-10 offers a passenger capacity of 300 to 375 and a maximum range of 13,890 kilometers (7,500 nautical miles). Philippine Airlines currently operates 10 Boeing 777 jets, which will eventually be phased out as the new Boeing aircraft arrive.

Strategic widebody expansion

The Boeing commitment is part of a broader dual-fleet strategy for the Manila-based carrier. On July 21, 2026, Philippine Airlines signed a Memorandum of Understanding for nine additional Airbus A350-1000s. Aviation Week reported that the airline evaluated the Airbus A330neo but ultimately selected the larger Boeing 787-10 and Airbus A350-1000 models to meet higher passenger demand and cargo capacity requirements.

The Boeing agreement coincides with a historic milestone for the airline. Lucio C. Tan III, President and Chief Operating Officer of PAL Holdings, Inc., highlighted the 80-year partnership between the airline and the US manufacturer.

“This investment manifests our confidence in the future of Philippine Airlines and the continued growth of air travel. The Boeing 787-10 will strengthen our medium and long-haul fleet, allowing us to provide an even better travel experience for our customers while improving operational efficiency and supporting our long-term sustainability goals,” Tan said.

Stephanie Pope, President and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, stated the manufacturer looks forward to delivering the advanced-technology airplanes to deepen connections across Asia and beyond.

AirPro News analysis

We note that Boeing’s press release carefully characterizes this agreement as a “commitment” rather than a finalized firm order. While the commercial selection is clear, the deal will not officially appear on Boeing’s backlog until the final purchase agreements are signed.

Philippine Airlines’ decision to bypass the Airbus A330neo in favor of the Boeing 787-10 and Airbus A350-1000 underscores a distinct pivot toward maximizing payload and cargo volume on slot-constrained routes. As the airline prepares to join the oneworld Alliance following its 2026 invitation, this upgauged widebody fleet will provide the necessary capacity to integrate more deeply into the alliance’s global network.

Sources: The Boeing Company