Saudi Arabia launched new national airline

Riyadh Air aims to connect more than 100 international destinations.

Saudi Arabia officially launched Riyadh Air, the country’s second national carrier, after delays of more than a year caused by aircraft delivery issues.

The state-owned airline began operations with its inaugural Boeing 787 Dreamliner flight to London, marking a key milestone in Saudi Arabia’s efforts to diversify its economy and establish Riyadh as a major global aviation hub.

Owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), Riyadh Air aims to connect more than 100 international destinations within the next five years. The airline has ordered 132 Boeing 787 Dreamliner’s and signed a deal for 25 Airbus A350-1000 aircraft, with an option for up to 50 more.

Riyadh Air is expected to support Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 strategy, create around 200,000 direct and indirect jobs, and help increase the kingdom’s annual air traffic to 330 million passengers by 2030.

The launch comes as Saudi Arabia seeks to strengthen its position in the regional aviation market, competing with established Gulf carriers such as Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways.