JEDDAH – Saudi Arabian Airlines (SAUDIA), the national flag carrier of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, at a special ceremony at the new Terminal 1 of Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport on Monday, welcomed its first 787-10 Dreamliner, which will play a key role in the airline’s fleet and network expansion.

The largest member of the Dreamliner family sets the benchmark for fuel efficiency and operating economics and will complement SAUDIA’s existing fleet of 13 Boeing 787-9s.

“SAUDIA operates a state-of-the-art fleet equipped with the latest technology, and in addition to the airline’s existing Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, is now adding the 787-10 variant which will further support future network growth plans,” said Director General Saudi Arabian Airlines, His Excellency Eng. Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser.

“The airplane’s onboard cabin features, long range capability and the latest in technological advancements are among the many aspects of what makes the Boeing 787 highly popular with our guests.”

The layout of the SAUDIA Boeing 787-10 will be 357 seats in a two-class configuration, with 24 seats in Business Class and 333 seats in Guest Class (Economy).

In addition to the 787-10, SAUDIA operates 13 787-9 Dreamliner airplanes, and 33 777-300ER (Extended Range) jets.

“SAUDIA has been a valued partner with Boeing for nearly 75 years and this delivery marks another major milestone in our partnership. Our team takes great pride in building and delivering quality aircraft to SAUDIA and we are honored by the continuing confidence in the 787 Dreamliner and 777 families,” said Ihssane Mounir, senior vice president of Commercial Sales and Marketing, The Boeing Company. “The addition of the 787-10 to SAUDIA’s fleet will continue the superior inflight experience that passengers have come to expect of the Dreamliner. Moreover, the unmatched fuel efficiency of the 787 will help SAUDIA open new routes and achieve significant fuel savings and emission reduction.”

The 787-10 as a stretch of the 787-9, adds about 40 more seats in a 2-class configuration and cargo capacity, offering 25 percent better fuel per seat and fewer emissions than the airplanes it replaces. With a range 6,345 nautical miles (11,750 kms), the 787-10 can fly more than 95 percent of the world’s twin-aisle routes.

To optimize the performance of its 787 fleet, SAUDIA uses Boeing Global Services digital solutions powered by Boeing AnalytX such as Airplane Health Management (AHM), Maintenance Performance Toolbox and Crew Rostering and Pairing to optimize performance, manage global crew schedules and maintain their fleet. — SG