Saudi Arabia is Launching New National Airline ‘Riyadh Air’

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is set to launch a new national airline called ‘Riyadh Air’, in a bid to improve connectivity between the kingdom and the three continents it straddles - Africa, Asia and Europe. The airline is expected to serve more than 100 destinations globally by 2030, with the goal of adding USD 20 billion to non-oil GDP growth and creating more than 200,000 direct and indirect jobs.

The Public Investment Fund (PIF) is the sole owner of the airline and has appointed Tony Douglas, former CEO of Etihad, as the Chief Executive. The PIF’s governor, Yasser bin Othman al-Rumayyan, will chair the company’s board of directors, and the senior management will include both Saudis and international employees.

The announcement follows the unveiling of a masterplan in November 2022 for a major new airport in Riyadh, the King Salman International Airport. Riyadh Air aims to be a crucial component of this airport, serving as a gateway between Saudi Arabia and the rest of the world.