Geoffrey Thomas Discusses Riyadh Air's Plans

AirlineRatings.com Editor-in-Chief Geoffrey Thomas discusses Riyadh Air's grand plans for expansion to become a major international airline.

In March, Riyadh Air the new Saudi Arabian, owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), announced an order for 39 787-9s with options for an additional 33 787-9s.

At the time of the order Tony Douglas, CEO of Riyadh Air said “the new airline reflects the ambitious vision of Saudi Arabia to be at the core of shaping the future of global air travel and be a true disrupter in terms of customer experience,

“Riyadh Air’s commitment to its customers will see the integration of digital innovation and authentic Saudi hospitality to deliver a seamless travel experience. By positioning the airline as both a global connector and a vehicle to drive tourist and business travel to Saudi Arabia, our new 787-9s will serve as a foundation for our worldwide operations, as we build a wider network and connect our guests to Saudi Arabia and many destinations around the world,” Mr Douglas said.

At a media briefing in Paris before the airshow, Mr Douglas said that he expects the start-up to be connecting Riyadh to most major capitals in Europe by 2030. He said the aim is to be flying to 100 cities by that year.

He said that Riyadh Air's brand will be high-end and full-service.

Also on the network radar will be major US cities, particularly on the eastern seaboard and the key cities of Asia.

Mr Douglas said the airline would tease destination and product announces through next year as it prepares for take-off.

The next major aircraft order will be for a narrow-body aircraft for regional and domestic routes and tat will pit the 737MAX against the Airbus A320 family.