Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia’s ambitious new digital-native carrier, has formed a major long-term partnership with Lufthansa Technik to secure its maintenance and technical operations. The agreement, signed at the Dubai Airshow, is a strategic move as the airline commences its journey, with its first Boeing 787-9 now in service.
The cornerstone of the partnership is a ten-year Total Component Support (TCS) contract. This provides Riyadh Air with guaranteed, around-the-clock access to Lufthansa Technik’s global network of spare parts for its 787 Dreamliner fleet. The arrangement is designed to maximize aircraft availability, minimize downtime—including dedicated support for Aircraft on Ground (AOG) situations—and offer significant cost advantages over building an in-house parts inventory from scratch.
Complementing this, Riyadh Air will fully integrate into Lufthansa Technik’s digital ecosystem by adopting its industry-leading AMOS software for all Maintenance & Engineering activities. This single digital platform will manage everything from maintenance planning and logistics to compliance, ensuring efficiency from day one.
Adam Boukadida, Chief Financial Officer of Riyadh Air, emphasized the necessity of the partnership for a startup airline. “To minimize the impact of any technical issues, we need immediate access to a broad pool of aircraft components across the globe that are available 24/7,” he stated, highlighting operational reliability as a critical priority.
Dr. Christian Leifeld, CFO of Lufthansa Technik, expressed enthusiasm for supporting Riyadh Air’s rapid growth trajectory, which aims to connect 100 destinations by 2030. “Operational stability will be key… we see ourselves as a strong partner from the recent start all the way to its 2030 goals,” he said. He also noted the alignment between Riyadh Air’s digital focus and Lufthansa Technik’s mission to transform the MRO landscape through connectivity and data.
This comprehensive partnership provides Riyadh Air with the proven technical backbone and digital infrastructure essential for launching a reliable, world-class airline, positioning it strongly for its ambitious expansion under Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.
