Riyadh Air’s Indigo Livery Debuts on First Production Boeing 787-9
Riyadh Air has revealed its first production Boeing 787-9 painted in the airline's indigo and lavender livery after the aircraft left Boeing's paint facility in Charleston.
By The Aviation Hub
4 min read
The Riyadh Air indigo livery has made its production debut. On 4 October 2026, the Saudi carrier published images of Boeing 787-9 HZ-RXAK freshly painted in its indigo and lavender colour scheme after rolling out of Boeing's paint facility in Charleston, South Carolina.
The aircraft is now nearing delivery. According to aviacionline, Riyadh Air has not stated a specific delivery date, though the airline says it will take place soon and that HZ-RXAK will begin flying to one of the 15 airports in its network.
What the Riyadh Air Indigo Livery Looks Like
The scheme pairs indigo and lavender tones. Riyadh Air says the design draws its inspiration from the colours of spring desert blooms and the art of Arabic calligraphy. In its social media post, translated by X from Arabic, the airline described HZ-RXAK as its "Nile Blue Boeing 787 Dreamliner."
The indigo livery is intended to complement rather than replace the carrier's existing pearlescent white scheme. Aviacionline reports that Riyadh Air expects one in every ten aircraft in its fleet to wear the indigo colours, using them to mark fleet growth milestones.
The Design Firm Behind the Scheme
AeroTime reports that design consultancy PriestmanGoode was briefed by Riyadh Air to create two elegant and bold livery designs to position the airline at the forefront of the next generation of carriers.
PriestmanGoode refined the colour palette to five primary colours, including lavender, Sunset Peach and Indigo. The consultancy described the first livery as a statement indigo scheme "inspired by the ever-changing colours that paint the sky, from dusk till dawn." The second livery uses a custom iridescent paint colour developed to help the brand stand out further.
The indigo design also incorporates sweeping curves referencing Arabic script and carries the airline's global campaign tagline, "The Future Takes Flight," according to Aviation A2Z.
Why HZ-RXAK Is Not the First 787 in These Colours
HZ-RXAK is the first production aircraft to wear the indigo livery, but it is not the first Boeing 787 to do so. AeroTime notes that between June 2023 and October 2024 a promotional Boeing 787 registered N8572C carried the Riyadh Air indigo scheme at aviation events, including the 54th Paris Air Show.
That aircraft was later delivered to TAAG Angola Airlines in 2025 and is now registered as D2-TEQ. HZ-RXAK and N8572C are separate airframes; HZ-RXAK is the first aircraft from Riyadh Air's own fleet to receive the paint scheme.
Where Riyadh Air Stands Today
CEO Tony Douglas marked the occasion with a clear sense of progress. "Seeing our first indigo aircraft leave the paint shop is a proud moment for Riyadh Air," he said. "Along with our pearl livery, it reflects a modern, self-confident Saudi identity, and marks another significant milestone, as we have grown to 10 aircraft and 15 destinations in less than four months."
According to ch-aviation data cited by AeroTime, Riyadh Air had received eight Boeing 787-9 aircraft at the time the images were released. Those eight aircraft are painted in the airline's alternative white, indigo and lavender colours rather than the statement indigo design seen on HZ-RXAK.
You can track HZ-RXAK and other Riyadh Air aircraft through our Aircraft Search tool.
Riyadh Air's Route Network So Far
Aviacionline reports that Riyadh Air began scheduled operations on 10 June 2026 with a daily flight to London Heathrow. The airline now flies to London Heathrow, Dubai, Jeddah, Cairo, Madrid, Málaga (seasonal), Manchester, Kuala Lumpur, Mumbai and Dhaka. Islamabad and Lahore were added in August, with Bangkok and Manila following in September.
The carrier aims to reach 22 destinations by March 2027 and more than 100 by 2030. Riyadh Air is also shaping up as a significant carrier for major events. We previously looked at which airlines are serving the national teams of the FIFA World Cup as the tournament approaches, and Riyadh Air's rapid expansion puts it firmly in that conversation.
The Bottom Line
The appearance of HZ-RXAK in full indigo and lavender colours marks the moment a livery concept first shown to the world in 2023 has arrived on a Riyadh Air production aircraft. With one in ten fleet members set to wear the scheme, more indigo-painted Dreamliners will follow as the airline grows toward its 2030 target of over 100 destinations.
The delivery of HZ-RXAK itself is the immediate thing to watch. Once the aircraft enters service, the indigo livery will move from paint shop images to airport gates across Riyadh Air's network.
Continue to follow The Aviation Hub for more analysis and insight.
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