Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia’s new international carrier, is gearing up to begin pre-certification flights in September 2024. The airline aims to start scheduled passenger services by mid-2025. At the Future Aviation Forum in Riyadh, CEO Tony Douglas confirmed that the airline has already recruited its initial group of 38 pilots, including several training captains.
The certification flights, scheduled between September and November 2024, are a key part of obtaining the Air Operator Certificate (AOC) for Riyadh Air. “We’ll go into service in the summer of next year,” Douglas stated. “The energy in the place is absolutely palpable. It’s all about the excitement of a start-up.”
In addition to flight crew, Riyadh Air has been actively hiring cabin crew members and recently welcomed its third group of flight attendant recruits. The airline plans to unveil new cabin crew uniforms at the Paris Fashion Show between June 18 and 23, 2024. Douglas mentioned that the new uniforms will “give a statement of what this brand’s all about” and hinted at revealing the airline’s digital services later in 2024.
Fleet and Destination Goals
Riyadh Air, announced in March 2023, quickly made headlines with an order for 39 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, powered by General Electric GEnx-1B engines, and options for another 33. The airline aims to serve over 100 destinations by 2030.
How Riyadh Air and the existing national carrier, Saudia, will coexist in the market remains to be seen. Saudia plans to move its operations from Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport to Jeddah, allowing Riyadh Air to dominate at the capital’s airport. Riyadh and Jeddah are approximately 500 miles apart, a distance that equates to around two hours of flight time.
Douglas emphasized the importance of improving connectivity between Saudi Arabia and the rest of the world. He noted that many major cities, such as Tokyo and Shanghai, currently lack direct air connections with Saudi Arabia. “This is simply unacceptable for a G20 country,” Douglas said. “We need to get Riyadh, the capital city, far greater connectivity.”
Future Plans and Expansion
Riyadh Air plans to connect to over 100 destinations by 2030, addressing the current gap in global connectivity for Saudi citizens. Douglas highlighted the airline’s ten-year plan to catch up and provide the connectivity that Saudi citizens deserve.
The next major announcement from Riyadh Air is expected to be for narrow-bodied aircraft. Vincent Coste, the carrier’s Chief Commercial Officer, mentioned that the order for narrowbody jets should be finalized “within the next weeks.” However, Coste did not disclose whether Airbus or Boeing would be the chosen manufacturer.
At the Future of Aviation Forum, Saudia announced an order for 105 Airbus A320neo-family jets. Douglas commented that this deal “reinforced the amount of energy in the kingdom and its understanding of the importance of global connectivity.” Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 plan aims to increase tourism and economic growth, and Riyadh Air’s expansion plays a crucial role in this vision.
Riyadh Air’s preparations for certification flights and its ambitious plans for global connectivity mark an exciting new chapter for Saudi Arabia’s aviation sector. The airline’s focus on expanding its network and enhancing passenger experience aligns with the Kingdom’s broader goals for economic and tourism development.
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