You've probably heard of this airline, it's making the rounds on social networks and in the media at the moment. Riyadh Air, the brand-new Saudi Arabian airline, made its presence felt at the 54th edition of the Paris Air Show 2023 and is now eagerly preparing for its inaugural flight in 2025. In light of this momentous occasion, Flightreviews.net was granted an exclusive opportunity to closely examine the aircraft, witness its captivating livery, and meet the team of Riyadh Air in their magnificent chalet.
On March 12, 2023, Prince Mohammed bin Salmane of Saudi Arabia unveiled the establishment of Riyadh Air as the country's second flag carrier, complementing the current national flag carrier, Saudia Airlines.
Riyadh placed its first aircraft order on March 14, for the firm purchase of 39 new-generation Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, with an option for a further 33 aircraft. Created to become the largest airline in the Middle East, Boeing's 787s will enable the new Saudi Arabian carrier to reach destinations in Europe, Asia, and America. As for future orders, negotiations are said to be underway with the European manufacturer Airbus, as well as Boeing. According to the airline's CEO Sir Tony Douglas, these negotiations will encompass more than one hundred single-aisle, medium-haul aircraft.
In an eagerly anticipated moment, Riyadh Air took delivery of its inaugural aircraft on June 12, 2023, just a week before its grand unveiling at the Paris Air Show. In fact, it's not really their inaugural aircraft, but rather a showcase aircraft for the duration of the show. Indeed, the aircraft will return to Boeing before being repainted in the colors of another airline. The real inaugural aircraft in Riyadh Air's livery should see the light of day in 2025.
In celebration of this milestone, Flightreviews.net was invited to capture the essence of the aircraft, standing at the feet of the aircraft to immortalize its distinct livery.
Although the current aircraft is not open to public visits due to its lack of a complete cabin, observers caught a glimpse of a few visible seats through the windows.
Our sources have revealed, however, that the aircraft is not equipped with Riyadh Air's own cabin. The airline's official cabin design will be unveiled in due course. At present, it is anticipated that the airline's aircraft will offer three classes of travel: Business, Premium Economy, and Economy Class. Riyadh Air's CEO, Sir Tony Douglas, has already confirmed that the airline will not provide a First Class service.
The Boeing 787 presented by Riyadh Air showcases the airline's inaugural livery, with plans to unveil a second livery in the future.
The current livery harmoniously blends shades of lavender and indigo. The lavender color, reminiscent of the vast lavender fields in Saudi Arabia, symbolizes warm hospitality, while the indigo shade represents the ever-changing colors of the sky, from dusk to dawn. Riyadh Air asserts that this livery signifies the airline's commitment to providing superior quality to its esteemed passengers. As stated by Sir Tony Douglas, "the new national airline will be a high-quality, full-service carrier".
In addition to the captivating livery, Riyadh Air has embraced a distinctive logo, a true emblem inspired by an airplane window, the wing of a bird, and the elegant curves of Arabic calligraphy. Accompanying the logo is the renowned slogan "The Future Takes Flight".
Saudi Arabia's new airline wants its carbon footprint to be as small as possible. To achieve this, the airline's CEO emphasizes the paramount importance of utilizing Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) alongside cutting-edge technologies and increasingly fuel-efficient, lightweight, and noise-reduced aircraft. Sir Tony Douglas aspires for Riyadh Air to consume 25% less fuel than the most environmentally friendly airlines currently in operation.
With a strong emphasis on Artificial Intelligence and chatbots, Riyadh Air is poised to become a modern airline, facilitating enhanced connectivity for passengers who seek a seamless and technologically advanced travel experience.
Saudi Arabia, renowned for its religious tourism, is now determined to foster growth in both business and family travel. CEO Tony Douglas highlights Saudi Arabia as the world's second-largest growing economy after China, necessitating enhanced connectivity to attract an increasing number of business travelers and tourists.
Thus, Riyadh Air has been launched to revitalize tourism and foster connectivity by providing a central hub in Riyadh for future passengers. The airline has set ambitious goals to serve over 100 destinations worldwide by 2030. Sir Douglas points out that these destinations "will be the obvious ones in terms of within the Kingdom. It will be the obvious ones regionally and of course the obvious ones internationally".
In November of the previous year, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed ben Salmane announced the development of a new airport, which will serve as a significant extension of the existing King Khalid International Airport (RUH). In an official statement, the government declared that "King Salman International Airport is expected to be one of the world's largest airports covering an area of approximately 57 km2, allowing for six parallel runways and including the existing terminals named after King Khalid. [...] The airport aims to accommodate up to 120 million travelers by 2030 and 185 million travelers, with the capacity to process 3.5 million tons of cargo, by 2050 ".
Riyadh Air will be among the first airlines granted access to this cutting-edge airport, which will be equipped with the latest advancements in safety and seamless passenger flow.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Riyadh Air for their gracious invitation, allowing us to gain an exclusive insight into their brand-new visionary airline.
Riyadh Air's unwavering commitment to excellence, exemplified by its modern fleet, distinctive brand image, and emphasis on environmental sustainability and enhanced connectivity, positions it as a highly promising player in the future of air travel.
As the Saudi Arabian airline prepares for its much-anticipated launch in 2025, we can't wait to see how it arrives on the market, whether its commitments will be kept, and above all, we're already looking forward to discovering the product Riyadh Air will be offering its passengers.
Featured image by Yann Arnould
