Riyadh Air Reveals HZ-RXAK, Its First Production Boeing 787-9

Riyadh Air shared photos of its first production Boeing 787-9, registered HZ-RXAK, painted in the Nile Blue indigo and lavender livery on October 4, 2026. The airline posted the images on social media, tagging aircraft manufacturer Boeing.

Livery design and branding significance

The aircraft wears the statement indigo scheme first unveiled by the airline in June 2023 at King Khaled International Airport. Riyadh Air stated, "First look at our Nile Blue Boeing 787 Dreamliner after the completion of its painting." The design is intended to push boundaries in aviation.

The livery incorporates visual references to Saudi Arabia and its capital. It uses sweeping curves inspired by Arabic script alongside the global campaign tagline 'The Future Takes Flight'. The airline's broader brand identity draws inspiration from the Kingdom's hospitality and the vibrant lavender colors of the desert in spring. This first fleet livery was specifically inspired by the changing colors of the sky from dusk until dawn.

Contrast with promotional aircraft history

HZ-RXAK is the first aircraft delivered for Riyadh Air's own operational fleet. This marks a shift from the promotional phase. Between June 2023 and October 2024, a different Boeing 787, registered N8572C, carried the Riyadh Air livery to events like the Paris Air Show.

That promotional aircraft was later delivered to TAAG Angola Airlines in 2025, where it received the registration D2-TEQ. The eight Boeing 787-9 aircraft received by Riyadh Air, according to ch-aviation data, are painted in the indigo and lavender colors rather than an alternative white scheme.

Design partnership and creative intent

London-based design agency PriestmanGoode was tasked with creating two livery designs for the new airline. The agency refined Riyadh Air's color palette to five primary colors, including lavender, Sunset Peach, and Indigo.

PriestmanGoode said it pushed design boundaries to match the carrier's ambitions. "The first livery design for their new fleet was a statement indigo livery," the firm noted. It is inspired by the ever-changing colours that paint the sky, from dusk till dawn. The second design features a custom iridescent paint color intended to make the brand stand out. The social media post revealing HZ-RXAK was translated by X from Arabic. Riyadh Air continues to roll out its Boeing 787-9 fleet, with HZ-RXAK now in service as the first production aircraft bearing the Nile Blue livery.