Saudi Arabia launches new national carrier Riyadh Air despite Middle East conflict, delays

Saudi Arabia officially launched its second national airline, Riyadh Air, on Wednesday, proceeding with the flagship project despite significant delays and the backdrop of Middle East conflict. The airline's inaugural flight, a London-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner, took off early Wednesday, marking a key step in Saudi Arabia's ambitious plan to reduce its economic dependence on oil.

“

We want to bring glamour, we want to bring refinement, we want to bring grace back.

Riyadh Air, owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), aims to establish the Saudi capital as a major global aviation hub, challenging Dubai's dominance. CEO Tony Douglas expressed a vision to "bring glamour, refinement, and grace back" to air travel. The launch, originally slated for 2025, faced setbacks due to Boeing's manufacturing and safety issues, as well as regional tensions stemming from recent attacks on Gulf targets.

“

I think Riyadh, as a result of its geography, during this particular point in time, has been less affected by the attacks.

Douglas, however, remains optimistic, noting that Riyadh's geography has made it less affected by recent attacks. He described the launch as the "culmination of four years' worth of preparation," acknowledging the challenges but emphasizing progress. The airline has placed substantial orders, including 132 Boeing 787 Dreamliners and 25 Airbus A350-1000s, with options for 50 more, and plans to connect to over 100 international cities within five years.

“

You have the trials and the tribulations, you win some, you lose some, you make progress, you sometimes have setbacks, but you have made it, and this day we’ve made it.

This venture is central to Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 economic reforms, which seeks to diversify the economy beyond oil. The airline is expected to create 200,000 direct and indirect jobs. While Saudi Arabia aims to triple its air traffic to 330 million passengers by 2030, some analysts express skepticism about ambitions in a saturated regional market, especially as other large-scale projects like Neom and Mukaab face scaling back.

“

a historic moment for the nation