Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) on Thursday received from US manufacturer Boeing the new B787-9 Dreamliner aircraft that landed at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The aircraft will join the fleet of Saudia, which is currently implementing an unprecedented program for modernization and development, aiming to reach 200 modern aircraft in 2020 within the framework of the transformation plan at Saudi Arabian Airlines Organization, its companies and strategic units, SPA said.

The Director General of Saudia, Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, said the plane is the 21st new aircraft to join the fleet of the national carrier in 2017.

The company had received in the first half of this year 20 new aircraft, and 11 additional planes are expected to be delivered to Saudi Arabia by the end of 2017 to bring the number of aircraft joining the fleet of the national carrier this year to 32, SPA said.

Twenty eight aircraft were received last year, the agency added.