Riyadh Air to launch new destination every 2 months as 787 deliveries near
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia's Riyadh Air is gearing up to introduce a new international destination every two months once it begins operations, as the carrier prepares to receive its first Boeing 787 aircraft.
Riyadh Air, fully owned by the Public Investment Fund, is awaiting delivery of its initial aircraft to commence services, according to CEO Tony Douglas.
Speaking to Bloomberg, he said the airline requires two jets to initiate a round-trip route to each new destination. Douglas added that Riyadh Air aims to connect to 100 cities by 2030 as part of its long-term growth strategy.
This aligns with the Saudi Aviation Strategy, which targets doubling passenger capacity to 330 million annually from over 250 global destinations and increasing cargo handling to 4.5 million tons by 2030.
The carrier currently has four Boeing 787 Dreamliners in different stages of assembly at Boeing's facility in Charleston, South Carolina. Operations are expected to begin once the first two aircraft have been delivered.
Riyadh Air had initially planned to launch services in early 2025, but delays in aircraft handovers from Boeing have pushed back the timeline.
'The fact that these are in production probably brings my blood pressure down,' Douglas said. 'I will actually not believe they've been delivered until the day after they've been delivered.'
Douglas also confirmed that Riyadh Air has secured the necessary landing slots for its first destinations, though he did not disclose which cities they are.
At the Paris Air Show this week, the airline announced an order for up to 50 Airbus A350 long-range jets, with deliveries expected to begin in 2030.
Riyadh Air has also placed orders for 60 Airbus A321neo narrowbody aircraft and as many as 72 Boeing 787s, including options.
Commenting on the Airbus order, Douglas said the decision was based on the aircraft's capabilities and favorable commercial terms when compared with Boeing's 777X model. 'It was a very close call,' he noted, as reported by Bloomberg.
The airline's growth strategy reflects the Kingdom's ambition to transform Riyadh into a global travel hub and position Saudi Arabia as a major player in international aviation.
Riyadh Air aims to contribute to the broader Vision 2030 goals by enhancing connectivity and promoting tourism across the Kingdom.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Arabiya
3 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
US sanctions target those providing Iran with defense machinery, Houthi oil trading
The Trump administration said on Friday it had issued fresh Iran-related sanctions targeting eight entities, one vessel and one person for their alleged role in providing sensitive machinery for Tehran's defense industry. 'The United States remains resolved to disrupt any effort by Iran to procure the sensitive, dual-use technology, components, and machinery that underpin the regime's ballistic missile, unmanned aerial vehicle, and asymmetric weapons programs,' US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said. 'Treasury will continue to degrade Iran's ability to produce and proliferate these deadly weapons, which threaten regional stability and global security,' he added in a statement announcing the action. Two of the entities include shipping companies based in Hong Kong: Unico Shipping Co. Ltd and Athena Shipping Co. Ltd, the statement said. The Treasury Department on Friday also issued counterterrorism-related sanctions targeting Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis over alleged illicit oil trading and shipping, it said in a separate statement. Those sanctions target four individuals, 12 entities, and two vessels over imported oil and other illicit goods to support the Houthis, the department said.
Argaam
6 hours ago
- Argaam
Aldrees opens 4 new stations
Aldrees Petroleum and Transport Services Co. (Aldrees) opened four new stations in Dhahran, Riyadh, Arar, and Najran, the company said on X. The stations are located in Ajyal, Al-Badi'ah, and Al-Aziziyah districts, as well as King Saud Road. They offer a comprehensive range of services, including car services, commercial markets, a mosque, and ATMs. Aldrees stations reached 1,050 by the end of 2024, according to Argaam 's data.
Argaam
6 hours ago
- Argaam
Oil prices drop 2%, head for weekly gains
Oil prices were mixed on Friday, after the White House delayed a decision on potential US intervention in the Iran-Israel conflict. Despite the volatility, the prices are on track for weekly gains. Brent crude futures for August delivery fell by 2.1%, or $1.65, to $77.20 a barrel at 8:10 AM Makkah time. Meanwhile, US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures for August—the most actively traded contract—rose 0.65%, or 47 cents, to $73.97 a barrel. This came after a White House statement saying President Donald Trump would decide within the next two weeks whether the US will intervene in the ongoing Middle East conflict, according to Reuters. Chinese customs data released today showed fuel oil imports reached 1.30 million tons in May, equivalent to about 267,000 barrels per day—down 29% from April and 40% lower than the same period last year.
