Saudi Arabia Launches New National Airline, Riyadh Air

Saudi Arabia launched its second national airline, Riyadh Air, on Wednesday (10/6/2026), following a delay of more than a year. A white and lavender-branded Boeing 787 Dreamliner bound for London took off at 02:30 local time, as the kingdom strives to defy the economic turmoil triggered by the Middle East war to reduce its economic dependence on oil. Riyadh Air itself will be based in Jeddah. The kingdom’s second state-owned carrier is intended to help transform the capital into a global hub to rival Dubai, the world’s busiest city for international passengers. “We want to bring luxury, we want to bring refinement, we want to bring back elegance,” the CEO of Riyadh Air told AFP. The launch was previously planned for 2025, but was hampered by delivery delays from Boeing, which has experienced a series of manufacturing and safety problems in recent years, along with the escalation of conflict in the Middle East. The US-Israel war on Iran caused Tehran to lash out, firing thousands of drones and missiles at targets in Gulf states, including airports, deemed to have American interests. “I think Riyadh, because of its geographic location, at this time, is not too affected” by the attacks, the CEO said. “You have trials and tribulations, you win some, you lose some, you make progress, sometimes you have setbacks, but you have succeeded, and today we have succeeded,” the CEO added. Saudi Arabia is constructing a massive new airport in Riyadh with a planned capacity of 120 million passengers per year by 2030, compared with 53 million at the existing King Khalid International Airport. Riyadh Air is owned by the US$900 billion Public Investment Fund, the main vehicle for the ambitious Vision 2030 economic reforms of de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS). In a statement of intent, the airline ordered 132 Boeing 787 Dreamliners and last June signed for 25 Airbus A350-1000s, with an option for 50 more. “Our ambition is to be able to connect to more than 100 international cities within the next five years,” Douglas said.