Riyadh Air has officially launched operations, overcoming more than a year of delays caused by aircraft delivery issues and entering a highly competitive Gulf aviation market amid regional instability.
The airline’s inaugural flight, operated by a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, departed Riyadh for London on 11 June 2026. The launch marks a key milestone in Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 strategy to diversify its economy beyond oil and establish Riyadh as a major global aviation hub.
Originally scheduled to begin operations in 2025, Riyadh Air’s debut was postponed due to delays in Boeing aircraft deliveries. The launch also comes against the backdrop of heightened regional tensions following Iranian attacks involving drones and missiles across the Gulf region.
Owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), Riyadh Air is the country’s second state-owned carrier alongside Saudia. The airline plans rapid expansion, having ordered 132 Boeing 787 Dreamliners and 25 Airbus A350-1000 aircraft, with options for an additional 50 A350s.
Chief Executive Officer Tony Douglas said the airline aims to serve more than 100 international destinations within five years. The carrier is expected to play a central role in supporting Saudi Arabia’s goal of increasing annual air traffic to 330 million passengers by 2030.
The launch is closely linked to major infrastructure investments, including the planned expansion of Riyadh’s airport capacity to 120 million passengers annually by 2030, more than double the current capacity of King Khalid International Airport.
While some analysts question whether the Gulf market can absorb another major network carrier alongside Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways, Riyadh Air benefits from access to Saudi Arabia’s large domestic market of around 35 million people, significantly larger than those of its Gulf rivals.
Saudi officials estimate the airline will generate around 200,000 direct and indirect jobs, making it one of the flagship projects of the kingdom’s economic transformation programme.
This post was published on 11 June 2026 18:28
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