Boeing last week made two separate order announcements for its venerable 787 Dreamliner. Longtime flag carrier SAUDIA, it said, would purchase 39 787s — a mixture of Boeing 787-9s and 787-10s — and take a further 10 options, whilst new entrant Riyadh Air is expected to order 39 Boeing 787-9s, with options for an additional 33 of the type.

The news comes as Saudi Arabia, under its Vision 2030 initiative, is investing heavily across all sectors, including in air transport. The aim is to reposition the kingdom as a global aviation hub, able to serve 330 million passengers and attract 100 million visitors annually by 2030.

Yes, Saudi Arabia wants you to consider taking a vacation in its intriguing yet staunchly conservative country which is the site of several ancient cultures and civilizations, but also regularly comes under fire for human rights offenses, including around its treatment of women and the LGBTQA+ community. 

From a passenger experience perspective, RGN has observed several notable and praiseworthy moves from SAUDIA in recent years. It has acquired state-of-the-art inflight entertainment and connectivity systems, bolstered its soft product, and showcased culinary prowess (it proved particularly well-placed to offer delicious nonalcoholic beverages as the mocktail trend took flight.)

Now that start-up Riyadh Air is on the scene, it will be fascinating to observe the carrier’s PaxEx decisions.

On 12 March, Saudi prime minister and PIF chairman His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz announced the launch of the new operator, which is wholly owned by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund (PIF).

Though the PIF has in the past been criticised for its lack of transparency, it is significant that the oil-rich kingdom has placed an emphasis on sustainability for its airports, airlines, and wider development strategies, as it looks to a future where fossil fuels, its primary source of wealth, are gradually replaced.

His Excellency Yasir Al-Rumayyan, governor of the PIF, is Riyadh Air’s chair, while airline industry veteran Tony Douglas has been appointed CEO, a position he previously held at Etihad Airways.

Given its government ownership, and indeed its name (Riyadh is Saudi Arabia’s capital and main financial hub) Riyadh Air will become Saudi Arabia’s de facto second flag carrier.

The new entrant expects to take its first 787 delivery in time to begin revenue operations early in 2025. It promises stand-out service through a superior cabin product including ‘next-generation digital infight entertainment and connectivity solutions’, available across a 100-destination network by 2030.

In keeping with the Vision 2030 ethos, digital technology and sustainability have been noted as key pillars of the new airline’s development and operational philosophy.

Douglas expects to grow the airline’s order book beyond the initial Dreamliner commitment and does not rule out an Airbus purchase. The carrier’s ambition to operate international, regional and domestic routes implies a mixed widebody and narrowbody fleet, and as such, we’re keeping an eye out for new orders.

Riyadh Air will primarily operate out of Riyadh’s new King Salman International Airport. Announced on 27 November 2022, the PIF masterplan for the 57km2 airport’s development includes six runways, capacity for 120 million passengers per year by 2030, and 185 million passengers and 3.5 million tons of cargo annually by 2050, all powered by renewable energy.

Saudi Arabia’s geographic position lends itself to international connections between Europe, Africa and Asia and the PIF’s investment in both a national airline and a major airport signals the government’s intention to reposition the nation not only as an air travel hub but also a popular tourist destination. The same geographic justification may be applied with similar robustness to Dubai of course, and its already well-established hub position.

According to Boeing’s news release, the Saudi orders have yet to be finalised and thus far have not appeared on the OEM’s Orders and Deliveries website. Engine choice between GE’s GEnx-1B and the Trent 1000 from Rolls-Royce has therefore yet to be announced, but SAUDIA has specified the GE turbofan for all its previous 787-9 and -10 orders.

Riyadh Air is starting from scratch, awaiting brand new aircraft while its airport base is built. It is also reaching out for staff; two days after the PIF announcement, hopeful applicants had uploaded 73,000 CVs to the company’s web portal.

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Featured image credited to Boeing