Saudi startup Riyadh Air confident in 2025 launch, mum on plans for US flights
Riyadh Air CEO Tony Douglas is confident that the startup — which is positioning itself as Saudi Arabia's elite answer to the big Gulf carriers — will take to the skies next year.
The airline is on track to secure its operating certificate from Saudi Arabian authorities before the end of the year. The certification will pave the way for ticket sales to begin in early 2025 and revenue flights to take off later that year, Douglas said at the Routes World 2024 conference in Bahrain on Sunday.
"We'll deploy [a] 787-9, for example, [to] one of the capital cities within Western Europe into Riyadh, it will then turn around in Riyadh and do a regional route, the likes of a Delhi, a Mumbai, a Jeddah, [or] a Dubai," he said of the airline's initial routes.
When asked what cities Riyadh Air is considering for its launch destinations, Douglas said there would be no "surprises."
Founded in 2023, Riyadh Air is framing itself — at least, in terms of product and onboard experience — as Saudi Arabia's premium airline that will compete with the likes of Emirates and Qatar Airways. The carrier's first Boeing 787 sported a striking purple livery that would stand out among the Eurowhite-painted crowd of planes at most international airports.
While Riyadh Air has not yet revealed its hard product, the airline is lavishly spending money on everything from its crew uniforms to its "sonic brand," as Douglas described it, which was recently recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London.
The Saudi startup plans to unveil its digital presence at an event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, at the end of October, Douglas said.
Riyadh Air has big plans. It aims to serve 100 destinations globally within its first five years or by the decade's end. That includes the U.S., where it has signed Delta Air Lines as a partner to extend its future network beyond major gateways. The airline also counts Air China, Singapore Airlines and Turkish Airlines among its partners.
When to go: These are the best times to buy an international flight
Douglas was mum on what cities Riyadh Air plans to serve in the U.S. Considering its ambition to serve major global cities and its plans to connect with partners, New York City's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) — the largest international air gateway to the U.S. and a Delta hub — is a likely entry point for the airline.
He also didn't share any details on when U.S. flights could begin. Attendees at Routes World doubted that Riyadh Air could serve the country before 2026 and maybe not until 2027 given how Boeing's ongoing delivery delays could affect the airline's timeline for receiving aircraft capable of flying those routes nonstop.
The Riyadh-New York route is 6,526 miles and takes about 13 1/2 hours, according to data from Cirium Diio (a flight schedule and route planning program developed by aviation analytics firm Cirium). This means that in order to offer a daily flight, Riyadh Air would need to dedicate at least two aircraft to the Riyadh-New York route alone.
Boeing data shows that Riyadh Air has a firm order for 39 787-9 Dreamliners plus options to buy another 33.
The airline plans to unveil a similarly sized narrow-body order in "relatively short order," Douglas said. He did not indicate whether the deal would likely go to Airbus for its A320neo family of planes or Boeing and its 737 MAX family.
As for Riyadh Air's positioning vis-a-vis its Gulf competitors, Douglas has a clear vision. On the product front, it aims to match or exceed Emirates and Qatar Airways. But in terms of network strategy, he was clear: Riyadh Air is focused on connectivity to Saudi Arabia rather than trying to compete as a global "super-connector" airline flowing people between, for example, Europe and Australia or North America and India.
Riyadh "is simply not well enough connected at this point in time," Douglas said. "It's not as if we're trying to create a market; the market already exists, and it demands to be served much better."
Related reading:
- Best airline credit cards
- What exactly are airline miles, anyway?
- 6 real-life strategies you can use when your flight is canceled or delayed
- Maximize your airfare: The best credit cards for booking flights
- The best credit cards to reach elite status
- What are points and miles worth? TPG's monthly valuations
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees