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Riyadh Air

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Riyadh Air
طيران الرياض
Official logo of Riyadh Air
IATA ICAO Call sign
RX[1] RXI RIYADH[2]
Founded12 March 2023; 3 years ago (2023-03-12)
Commenced operations
26 October 2025; 9 months ago (2025-10-26)
HubsKing Khalid International Airport
Sfeer
SubsidiariesRiyadh Cargo
Fleet size7
Destinations10
Parent companyPublic Investment Fund
HeadquartersRiyadh, Saudi Arabia
Key people
Websitewww.riyadhair.com Edit this at Wikidata

Riyadh Air[a] is the second flag carrier of Saudi Arabia after Saudia, based in Riyadh.[4][5] The airline's main hub is at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, and is aimed at the world market, operating domestic and internationally scheduled flights to over 100 destinations in six continents. The fleet will consist of 4 aircraft types, 60 Airbus A321neo, 31 Airbus A350-1000, 47 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, and 20 Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner aircraft, with options for more.

The airline operated its first commercial flight on 26 October 2025.[6][7] It has cooperation agreements with SkyTeam members Delta Air Lines,[8] China Eastern Airlines,[9] Saudia,[10] Air France-KLM,[11] Air Europa[12], and Virgin Atlantic,[13] and Star Alliance members Turkish Airlines,[14] Singapore Airlines,[15] Air China,[16] All Nippon Airways (ANA)[17], Air India,[18] and EgyptAir.[19]

According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), Riyadh Air will be owned by the country's Public Investment Fund (PIF), with Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the governor of PIF, as its chairman. Tony Douglas was appointed as its CEO. He was the CEO of Etihad Airways from January 2018 until October 2022.[20] Riyadh Air is expected to add US$20 billion to non-oil GDP growth, and create more than 200,000 direct and indirect jobs.

History

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On 12 March 2023, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, formally announced the establishment of Riyadh Air, the country's newest national airline in Saudi Arabia.[21][22] Two days later, it was announced that the airline had ordered 39 Boeing 787-9 aircraft with options for 33 more aircraft.[23][24]

A Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner painted in the Riyadh Air livery at the Dubai Airshow 2023

Riyadh Air unveiled its first livery on 4 June 2023. The livery was painted on a Boeing 787-9, although this aircraft was owned by Boeing and will not enter the Riyadh Air fleet.[25] On the same day, it received its airline designator code "RX" from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) at the World Air Transport Summit, which took place in Istanbul.[26] On 12 June 2023, Boeing delivered the first aircraft to the airline's fleet.[27] On 14 June 2023, the airline was granted its Passenger Air Transport Economic License by the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), which is required for the airline to begin commercial operations.[28] On 21 June 2023, at the Paris Air Show, Riyadh Air signed an agreement for 90 GE Aerospace's GEnx-1B engines to power its future fleet of 39 Boeing 787-9 aircraft.[29]

On 9 July 2024, Riyadh Air signed a memorandum of understanding with Delta Air Lines, a founding member of the SkyTeam alliance.[30] Under the terms of the memorandum, the two airlines would establish a basis for future flight codesharing and alignment of the customer service and frequent-flier program experiences.[31]

On 30 October 2024, Riyadh Air confirmed an order of 60 Airbus A321neo.[32]

On 15 January 2025, Riyadh Air received its first Boeing 787-9 aircraft, however it is leased, and it will be used only as a technical spare and training aircraft.[33]

A Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner painted in the airline’s second white livery at the Paris Air Show 2025

On 6 April 2025, Riyadh Air received approval from the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) to commence its flight operations.[34]

On 16 June 2025, Riyadh Air announced the order of 25 Airbus A350-1000 aircraft at the Paris Air Show. The deal also includes purchase rights for an additional 25 of the type.[35]

On 9 October 2024, Riyadh Air announced a partnership with FLYR. FLYR will deliver its Offer and Order retailing platform to power Riyadh Air's commercial operations, making it the world's first native ONE Order network carrier.[36]

On 7 August 2025, Riyadh Air announced a partnership with Amadeus. Amadeus will distribute Riyadh Air’s future NDC (New Distribution Capability) content, allowing for personalized offers and dynamic pricing across third-party platforms.[7]

On 21 January 2026, Riyadh Air announced the establishment of Riyadh Cargo.[37]

On 5 June 2026, the first two factory-new aircraft of the airline were delivered.[38]

On 23 July 2026, Riyadh Air announced the launch of RX Pay, a co-branded Mastercard payment card program that rewards Sfeer Points with everyday purchases.[39]

Sponsorships

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Riyadh Air has primarily sponsored association football teams. 2023 saw Riyadh Air become the shirt sponsor of Atlético Madrid.[40] The following year, Riyadh Air sponsored CONCACAF, the association football confederation of North America, becoming the official airline of the conference. Later that year, Riyadh Air purchased the naming rights to Metropolitano Stadium, the home field for Atlético Madrid.[41][42]

Destinations

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Riyadh Air aims to operate to 100 destinations by 2030. As of 6 June 2026, the airline has announced a preliminary route network to London Heathrow, Dubai International, Madrid–Barajas Airport, Cairo International Airport, Manchester Airport, and Jeddah Airport, with plans to announce more destinations soon after as aircraft deliveries ramp up.[43] Public ticket sales opened on May 19 for flights aboard their newly acquired aircraft, with plans to begin scheduled service to London Heathrow on July 1 (later brought forward to June 10).[44][45] The airline originally operated this service on a Boeing 787-9 leased from Oman Air with the name Jamila.

In June 2026, they announced plans to operate three new flights to Dhaka, Kuala Lumpur and Málaga.[46]

Country City Airport Notes Refs
BangladeshDhakaHazrat Shahjalal International AirportPassenger[47]
EgyptCairoCairo International AirportPassenger[48]
IndiaMumbaiChhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International AirportPassenger[49]
MalaysiaKuala LumpurKuala Lumpur International AirportPassenger[47]
PakistanIslamabadIslamabad International AirportPassenger[50]
LahoreAllama Iqbal International AirportPassenger[50]
PhilippinesManilaNinoy Aquino International AirportBegins 9 September 2026[51]
Saudi ArabiaJeddahKing Abdulaziz International AirportPassenger[52]
RiyadhKing Khalid International AirportHub
SpainMadridMadrid–Barajas AirportPassenger[52]
MálagaMálaga AirportPassenger[47]
ThailandBangkokSuvarnabhumi AirportBegins 2 September 2026[53]
United Arab EmiratesDubaiDubai International AirportPassenger[54]
United KingdomLondonHeathrow AirportPassenger[55]
ManchesterManchester AirportPassenger[56]

Codeshare and Cargo SPA Agreements

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Riyadh Air has also unveiled codeshare agreements with the following airlines:

Riyadh Air also signed a Cargo SPA agreement with Pakistan International Airlines.[64]

Fleet

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As of June 2026, Riyadh Air operates the following aircraft:[65][66]

Riyadh Air fleet
Aircraft In Service Orders Passengers Notes
F J W Y Total
Airbus A321neo — 60[67] TBA
Airbus A350-1000 — 31[68] TBA Order with 19 options.[69]
Boeing 787-9 6[70] 41[71] 4 24 39 223 290[72] Order with 5 options.[73]
1 — — 288 Leased from Oman Air to be used only as a technical spare and training aircraft.[33]
Boeing 787-10 — 20[74] TBA
Total 7 149
An Airbus A321XLR testbed painted in the Riyadh Air livery

See also

[edit]

Notes

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  1. ↑ Arabic: طيران الرياض, romanized: Ṭayārān ar-Riyāḍ

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ PIF, Riyadh Air, established by. "Riyadh Air Joins the Global Aviation Ecosystem With Unique Airline Code "RX"". Riyadh Air. Retrieved 11 October 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ↑ "Foreign ICAO Three Letter Designator (3LD) and Telephony Designator Additions, Modifications, and Deletions (excluding U.S.)" (PDF). Federal Aviation Administration. Federal Aviation Administration. 1 December 2025. Retrieved 23 August 2026.
  3. ↑ Bhoyrul, Anil; Amlot, Matthew (23 September 2022). "Etihad's Tony Douglas agrees to join new Saudi airline RIA". Arabian Business. Archived from the original on 14 October 2023. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
  4. ↑ Bhoyrul, Anil (1 September 2022). "Exclusive: Saudi Arabia to launch new airline 'RIA' with $30bn war chest to rival Emirates". Arabian Business. Archived from the original on 20 January 2024.
  5. ↑ "HRH Crown Prince Announces "Riyadh Air"". Saudi Press Agency. 12 March 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  6. ↑ "Riyadh Air to launch first commercial flight in 2025: CEO".
  7. 1 2 "Riyadh Air ready for Q4 2025 launch – London route set to begin late October - SAFE Saudi Arabia for Elites". 7 August 2025. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  8. ↑ "Delta, Riyadh Air sign strategic agreement to expand connectivity and premium travel options across North America, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and beyond". Delta News Hub. Delta Air Lines. 9 July 2024. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  9. 1 2 "Riyadh Air and China Eastern Airlines Sign MoU at IATA AGM in Dubai, Fostering Mutually Beneficial Connectivity and Digital Innovation". www.riyadhair.com. Archived from the original on 7 April 2025. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  10. 1 2 "Saudia and Riyadh Air sign a Strategic Cooperation MoU as part of an expansive agreement signifying collaborative strength in the Saudi Arabian Aviation Ecosystem". www.riyadhair.com. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  11. ↑ "Riyadh Air and Air France-KLM Sign Memorandum of Understanding (Mou) to establish Strategic Cooperation and Expand Global Connectivity | AIR FRANCE KLM". www.airfranceklm.com. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  12. ↑ "Riyadh Air commences Riyadh-Madrid service, signs MoU with Air Europa | CAPA". centreforaviation.com. Retrieved 18 August 2026.
  13. 1 2 PIF, Riyadh Air, established by. "Virgin Atlantic and Riyadh Air sign agreement to expand connectivity and premium travel between London, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and beyond". Riyadh Air. Archived from the original on 31 March 2025. Retrieved 11 September 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  14. ↑ Godinho, Varun (6 December 2023). "Riyadh Air signs cooperation agreement with Turkish Airlines". Business Traveller. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
  15. 1 2 "Riyadh Air and Singapore Airlines Sign Strategic Agreement to Establish Commercial Partnership". Riyadh Air. Archived from the original on 7 April 2025. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
  16. ↑ Varley, Len (6 June 2024). "Riyadh Air and Air China Strengthen Ties With New Agreement". AviationSource News. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
  17. ↑ YOSHIKAWA, Tadayuki. "ANAとリヤド航空、包括提携へ覚書締結 コードシェア・マイル連携検討". Aviation Wire (in Japanese). Retrieved 18 August 2026.
  18. 1 2 Varghese, Justin (4 June 2026). "Air India, Riyadh Air in new pact to boost India-Saudi connectivity". Gulf News: Latest UAE news, Dubai news, Business, travel news, Dubai Gold rate, prayer time, cinema. Retrieved 5 June 2026.
  19. ↑ "Riyadh Air and Egyptair in deal to bolster connectivity". Egypt Air Show 2024. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
  20. ↑ "Saudi Crown Prince announces new national airline". Khaleej Times. 12 March 2023. Archived from the original on 27 January 2024. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  21. ↑ "HRH Crown Prince Announces "Riyadh Air" New National Carrier to Further Expand Saudi Aviation Ecosystem Locally and Globally". Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund. 12 March 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  22. ↑ Maher, Hatem; Gebaly, Muhammad Al (12 March 2023). Lawson, Hugh (ed.). "Saudi Arabia launches new national airline". Reuters. Archived from the original on 3 August 2023.
  23. ↑ Dudley, Dominic. "Riyadh Sets Out Fleet Plans For New Airline To Rival Emirates And Qatar". Forbes. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  24. ↑ Rahman, Saifur (15 March 2023). "Riyadh Air orders 72 Boeings worth $17b". Arabian Post. Archived from the original on 15 March 2023. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  25. ↑ "Saudi Arabia's Riyadh Air unveils airline's first plane". Arabian Business. 5 June 2023. Archived from the original on 14 October 2023. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  26. ↑ "Annual General Meeting & World Air Transport Summit 2023". www.iata.org. Archived from the original on 17 February 2024. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  27. ↑ Singh, Marisha (12 June 2023). "Riyadh Air takes flight in Saudi skies ahead of air show debut: Watch". Gulf Business. Archived from the original on 14 October 2023. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  28. ↑ "GACA grants Riyadh Air economic license". Zawya. 14 June 2023. Archived from the original on 16 June 2023. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  29. ↑ "Riyadh Air announces first fleet order of 72 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners". Saudi Press Agency. 14 March 2023. Retrieved 30 January 2026.
  30. ↑ Kelly Yamanouchi (9 July 2024). "Delta to team with Saudi airline as kingdom invests billions in tourism". ajc.com. Cox Newspapers. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  31. ↑ "Delta, Riyadh Air sign strategic agreement to expand connectivity and premium travel options across North America, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and beyond". news.delta.com. Delta Air Lines. 9 July 2024. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  32. ↑ "Riyadh Air orders 60 next-generation Airbus A321 aircraft, powering its network in advance of 2025 launch". Riyadh Air. 30 October 2024. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  33. 1 2 PIF, Riyadh Air, established by. "Riyadh Air Boeing 787-9 Technical Spare Aircraft has arrived". Riyadh Air. Retrieved 20 April 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  34. ↑ Walid, Reem (6 April 2025). "Riyadh Air receives Air Operator Certificate, set to launch flights in 2025". arabnews.com. Arab News. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
  35. ↑ Kaminski-Morrow2025-06-16T11:12:00+01:00, David. "Riyadh Air orders 25 A350-1000s in deal for up to 50 of the type". Flight Global. Retrieved 17 June 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  36. ↑ "FLYR and Riyadh Air Partner to Deliver the World's First Digitally Native Airline Utilizing Offer and Order Technology". GlobeNewswire. 9 October 2024. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  37. ↑ "Riyadh Cargo unveiled as Riyadh Air's freighter operations division". AeroTime. 21 January 2026. Retrieved 30 January 2026.
  38. ↑ "Boeing Delivers Riyadh Air's First Two 787 Dreamliner Jets".
  39. ↑ "Riyadh Air Launches RX Pay: Its New Branded Card That Rewards Guests Everywhere They Go". 23 July 2026. Retrieved 27 July 2026.
  40. ↑ "Riyadh Air, Atlético de Madrid's new main sponsor". Atlético de Madrid. 10 August 2023. Archived from the original on 11 October 2023. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  41. ↑ "Saudi airline buys Atleti stadium naming rights". ESPN.com. 9 October 2024. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
  42. ↑ Islam, Arif (19 August 2024). "Concacaf lands Riyadh Air partnership". SportsPro. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
  43. ↑ "Riyadh Air Targets 15 Destinations In Initial Network Phase | Aviation Week". aviationweek.com. Retrieved 5 June 2026.
  44. ↑ "Riyadh Air Introduces New Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners on Riyadh-London Route as Public Ticket Sales Open". 19 May 2026.
  45. ↑ "MSN". www.msn.com. Retrieved 13 June 2026.
  46. ↑ Molyneaux, Ian (30 June 2026). "Riyadh Air opens flight bookings to three new destinations". Retrieved 2 July 2026.
  47. 1 2 3 "Riyadh Air begins selling tickets for three new overseas destinations". Al Arabiya. 30 June 2026. Retrieved 30 June 2026.
  48. ↑ "Riyadh Air begins selling tickets for three new overseas destinations". aviationweek.com. 29 June 2026. Retrieved 29 June 2026.
  49. ↑ "Riyadh Air to launch operations to Mumbai, effective August 4, 2026". Live from a Lounge. 4 July 2026. Retrieved 5 July 2026.
  50. 1 2 "Riyadh Air to launch direct flights to Islamabad, Lahore this month". www.aaj.tv. 1 August 2026. Retrieved 1 August 2026.
  51. ↑ "New Saudi airline announces flights to Pakistan, Philippines". Khaleej Times. Retrieved 3 August 2026.
  52. 1 2 "Riyadh Air launches Jeddah flights as Saudi Arabia's busiest domestic route gains new competitor". www.arabianbusiness.com. 14 June 2026. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
  53. ↑ Milner, Will (7 August 2026). "Riyadh Air launches Bangkok flights as Saudi airline expands Asia network".
  54. ↑ William, Helen (8 October 2025). "Riyadh Air Launching New Flights to Two Busiest International Airports in the World".
  55. ↑ "Riyadh Air Announces Flights to London & Sfeer Loyalty Program | Riyadh Air". www.riyadhair.com.
  56. ↑ Mayling, Samantha (8 June 2026). "Riyadh Air confirms Manchester flights and brings forward London launch". Travel Weekly. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  57. ↑ PIF, Riyadh Air, established by. "Riyadh Air and Air China to Strengthen Relations Following the Signing of MoU at IATA AGM in Dubai". Riyadh Air. Archived from the original on 30 November 2024. Retrieved 11 September 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  58. ↑ PIF, Riyadh Air, established by. "Riyadh Air and Air France-KLM sign Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish strategic cooperation and expand global connectivity". Riyadh Air. Retrieved 2 June 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  59. ↑ "Riyadh Air commences Riyadh-Madrid service, signs MoU with Air Europa | CAPA". centreforaviation.com. Retrieved 18 August 2026.
  60. ↑ YOSHIKAWA, Tadayuki. "ANAとリヤド航空、包括提携へ覚書締結 コードシェア・マイル連携検討". Aviation Wire (in Japanese). Retrieved 18 August 2026.
  61. ↑ PIF, Riyadh Air, established by. "Delta and Riyadh Air sign MoU". Riyadh Air. Archived from the original on 12 March 2025. Retrieved 11 September 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  62. ↑ PIF, Riyadh Air, established by. "Riyadh Air and EgyptAir Sign MoU at IATA AGM to Offer Guests Greater Benefits and Connectivity". Riyadh Air. Archived from the original on 7 April 2025. Retrieved 11 September 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  63. ↑ PIF, Riyadh Air, established by. "Riyadh Air and Turkish Airlines sign strategic cooperation MoU". Riyadh Air. Retrieved 4 December 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  64. ↑ Report, Recorder (29 October 2025). "Cargo operations: PIA inks agreement with Riyadh Air". Brecorder. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  65. ↑ "Global Airline Guide 2025 - Riyadh Air". Airliner World. September 2025. p. 74.
  66. ↑ "Commercial". www.boeing.com. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
  67. ↑ "60 Airbus A321 Aircraft Ordered | Riyadh Air". www.riyadhair.com. Archived from the original on 14 May 2026. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
  68. ↑ "Riyadh Air firms up order for six additional Airbus A350-1000 aircraft". www.airbus.com. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  69. ↑ "Riyadh Air places firm order for 25 Airbus A350-1000 aircraft | Airbus". www.airbus.com. 16 June 2025. Retrieved 8 August 2025.
  70. ↑ Smith, Gordon (20 July 2026). "Riyadh Air Waited Years for New Planes. Now Six Have Arrived in 30 Days". Skift. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  71. ↑ "Riyadh Air Commits to Purchase 28 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, Adds 787-10 to Future Fleet". investors.boeing.com. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  72. ↑ Schuurman, Richard (4 June 2026). "Riyadh Air Takes Delivery Of First Three 787s". AirInsight.
  73. ↑ "New Saudi Arabian Carrier Riyadh Air to Launch with All-Boeing Fleet of up to 72 787-9 Dreamliners". MediaRoom. Retrieved 8 August 2025.
  74. ↑ "Riyadh Air Commits to Purchase 28 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, Adds 787-10 to Future Fleet". investors.boeing.com. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
[edit]
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