Boeing said Tuesday that it had
secured orders for dozens of
787 Dreamliner jets with a pair of Saudi Arabian
airlines, providing a boost to the airplane, which has faced lengthy delivery
delays since late 2020.
اضافة اعلان
Riyadh Air, a new airline owned by Saudi
Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, and Saudia Airlines, also owned by the
government, will each buy 39 jets, Boeing said. Together, the orders are worth
tens of billions of dollars at list prices, though large orders are typically
heavily discounted. The deals are part of an effort by Saudi Arabia to become a
global aviation hub, copying a business model used by other Middle Eastern
countries such as Qatar and UAE.
“The new airline reflects the ambitious
vision of Saudi Arabia to be at the core of shaping the future of global air
travel,” Tony Douglas, the
CEO of Riyadh Air and the former top executive at
Etihad Airways, said in a statement.
“The new airline reflects the ambitious vision of Saudi Arabia to be at the core of shaping the future of global air travel.”
Princess Reema bint Bandar, Saudi Arabia’s ambassador
to the US, described the deal as a demonstration of the “enduring strategic
partnership” between the two countries.
Strained relationsSaudi Arabia’s long-standing relationship
with the US has been strained over the past five years as the kingdom expanded
its alliances with other global powers, including China, India,
and Russia.
On the campaign trail, President Joe Biden
pledged to turn
Saudi Arabia into a “pariah” over its human rights record, and
the two governments traded harsh words in October after Saudi Arabia supported
an oil production cut by
OPEC and its allies despite pleas from American
officials to wait.
Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary, praised the deals, saying in a statement that they would support 140,000 jobs across the country, many of which do not require a college degree.
Still, US-Saudi business and investment
ties remain deep. The vast majority of Saudi Arabia’s weaponry and defensive
systems are manufactured by US companies.
‘Milestone’Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press
secretary, praised the deals, saying in a statement that they would support
140,000 jobs across the country, many of which do not require a college degree.
The
Saudi airlines will also use
General Electric engines on their new planes.
“This partnership is another milestone in
eight decades of cooperation between Saudi Arabia and American industry,”
Jean-Pierre said. “Our administration looks forward to working with Saudi Arabia
and all partners in the Middle East to support a more prosperous, secure and
integrated region, which ultimately benefits the American people.”
Under the agreements,
Riyadh Air has the option
to buy 33 more 787s, while Saudia has the option for an additional 10 jets.
Saudia currently flies more than 50 Boeing planes, including 777 and 787
models.
A boost in airplane ordersThe order from the
Saudi airlines is a sign
of the growing strength of the global travel rebound. Last month, Air India
ordered 220 Boeing airplanes and 250 from Airbus. The airline is planning a
major expansion after the Indian government sold it to a private conglomerate,
the Tata Group, last year. In December, United Airlines announced plans to buy
100 787 jets.
“Our administration looks forward to working with Saudi Arabia and all partners in the Middle East to support a more prosperous, secure and integrated region, which ultimately benefits the American people.”
The 787 is a twin-aisle plane typically
used on popular or long routes. Riyadh Air is buying 787-9 planes, which can
carry about 300 passengers. Saudia will buy that model and the 787-10, which
can carry more than 330 passengers. Single-aisle planes like the Boeing 737 Max
carry fewer passengers and are more commonly used for shorter trips.
In the last few years,
US regulators have
repeatedly forced Boeing to pause deliveries of the 787 to address quality concerns,
including between late January and late February. Deliveries were previously on
hold for more than a year ending in August 2022 and for a five-month stretch
from late 2020 to early 2021.
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