**A Historic Arrival in Riyadh** On June 5, 2026, Riyadh Air officially took delivery of its first two Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners (registered HZ-RXAA and HZ-RXAB) at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. The aircraft arrived just four minutes apart, escorted by the Saudi Hawks aerobatic team, after a 15-hour ferry flight from Boeing's Everett delivery center. The delivery ceremony had taken place on June 3, attended by Yasser Al-Rumayyan, governor of the Public Investment Fund (PIF) and chairman of Riyadh Air, along with CEO Tony Douglas. **Delays and Production Challenges** The delivery was originally scheduled for late 2024 but faced repeated delays due to Boeing's production difficulties, including a seven-week strike in 2024 and increased FAA oversight following a MAX incident. These setbacks pushed the handover to mid-2025, then to late 2025, and finally to June 2026. For ATPL and ATC students, this case illustrates how supply chain disruptions and regulatory actions can ripple through airline operations, affecting fleet planning, crew scheduling, and route launches. **A Premium Cabin Configuration** Riyadh Air has configured its 787-9s with 290 seats across four classes: 4 "Business Elite" seats with 32-inch 4K OLED screens, 24 Business Class seats (Safran Unity with sliding doors and 22-inch screens), 39 Premium Economy seats (2-3-2 layout), and 223 Economy seats (3-3-3). The cabin features a color palette inspired by Saudi heritage—deep indigo, mocha gold, pearlescent tones, sky blue, and sunset peach. Free Wi-Fi will be offered to loyalty program members via Viasat. **Commercial Launch and Network Plans** Commercial flights begin July 1, 2026, with a daily Riyadh–London Heathrow service using these new aircraft. Riyadh Air had already operated this route since October 2025 using a wet-leased 787-9 from Oman Air (registered HZ-RXX, named "Jamila") for crew training and certification. The July 1 launch marks the true commercial debut with its own livery. Confirmed next destinations include Dubai, Cairo, and Jeddah (first domestic route), with Paris CDG, Madrid, and Manchester planned for later in 2026. **Fleet Expansion and Vision 2030** Riyadh Air has ordered up to 72 Boeing 787-9s (39 firm, 33 options) valued at approximately $11 billion at list prices—one of Boeing's largest-ever orders by value. It also ordered 60 Airbus A321neos in October 2024 and 25 Airbus A350-1000s (plus 25 options) at the 2025 Paris Air Show, projecting a total fleet of up to 182 aircraft. The airline is fully owned by the PIF, which manages over $620 billion in assets, and is a cornerstone of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 plan to attract 150 million visitors and handle 330 million passengers annually by 2030. **Implications for ATPL and ATC Students** This development offers a real-world case study in airline startup dynamics, fleet planning, and the impact of manufacturing delays on operations. Understanding how a new carrier like Riyadh Air navigates certification, crew training, and route network design is directly relevant to ATPL students studying airline management and ATC students managing airspace integration for new operators.