Saudi startup Riyadh Air optimistic about 2025 launch, remains tight-lipped on US flight plans

Riyadh Air CEO Tony Douglas expresses confidence that the new airline — set to be Saudi Arabia's premium competitor to major Gulf carriers — will commence operations next year.

The airline is on track to obtain its operating certificate from Saudi authorities by year-end. This certification will allow ticket sales to start in early 2025, with revenue flights expected to begin later that year, Douglas shared at the Routes World 2024 conference in Bahrain on Sunday.

"We plan to deploy a 787-9 to one of the major capitals in Western Europe to Riyadh, after which it will return to operate regional routes to cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Jeddah, or Dubai," he outlined regarding the airline's initial routes.

When questioned about potential launch destinations for Riyadh Air, Douglas assured that there would be no unexpected choices.

Established in 2023, Riyadh Air positions itself as Saudi Arabia's premium airline, aiming to rival Emirates and Qatar Airways in product and onboard experience. The airline's inaugural Boeing 787 features an eye-catching purple livery that sets it apart from the predominantly Eurowhite fleet at international airports.

Although Riyadh Air has yet to disclose its physical product details, it is investing significantly in various aspects, from crew uniforms to its "sonic brand," which was recently recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London, according to Douglas.

The Saudi startup is set to launch its digital platform at an event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, scheduled for the end of October, Douglas announced.

Riyadh Air has ambitious goals, planning to operate 100 destinations worldwide within its first five years or by the end of the decade. This includes service to the U.S., where it has partnered with Delta Air Lines to expand its future network beyond key gateways. The airline also collaborates with Air China, Singapore Airlines, and Turkish Airlines.

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Douglas remained tight-lipped about the U.S. cities Riyadh Air intends to serve. Given its goal to connect with major global hubs and its partnerships, New York City's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) — the largest international gateway to the U.S. and a Delta hub — seems a probable entry point for the airline.

He also refrained from revealing when flights to the U.S. might commence. Attendees at Routes World expressed skepticism that Riyadh Air would be able to launch services to the country before 2026, and possibly not until 2027, due to Boeing's ongoing delivery delays impacting the airline's ability to receive aircraft suitable for those routes nonstop.

The Riyadh-New York route spans 6,526 miles and typically takes around 1 hours, according to data from Cirium Diio, a flight scheduling and route planning tool developed by aviation analytics company Cirium. This suggests that to provide a daily service, Riyadh Air would need to allocate at least two aircraft solely for the Riyadh-New York route.

Boeing's records indicate that Riyadh Air has placed a firm order for 39 787-9 Dreamliners, with options to acquire an additional 33 aircraft.

The airline intends to announce a comparable narrow-body aircraft order in the "near future," according to Douglas. He did not specify whether this contract would be awarded to Airbus for its A320neo series or Boeing for its 737 MAX range.

Regarding Riyadh Air's competitive stance against other Gulf airlines, Douglas has a distinct plan. On the product side, it aims to either match or surpass Emirates and Qatar Airways. However, in terms of network strategy, he emphasized that Riyadh Air is prioritizing connectivity to Saudi Arabia rather than positioning itself as a global "super-connector" airline facilitating travel between regions such as Europe and Australia or North America and India.

Douglas noted that Riyadh "is simply not adequately connected at this moment." He added, "We're not attempting to create a market; the market already exists and requires significantly better service."