Saudi Arabia’s new national carrier Riyadh Air is due to operate its first non-commercial flight on September 12, 2024, from Riyadh to Jeddah as part of the airline’s program of test flights required to obtain its Air Operators Certificate (AOC).
Once its AOC is awarded by the Kingdom’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), the carrier will be permitted to commence commercial passenger and cargo services using its planned fleet of Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, as first revealed in an announcement made in 2023.
Riyadh Air, a subsidiary of the country’s Public Investment Fund and a sister airline to the established national carrier, Saudia, is hoping to launch regular services from 2025. Launched by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in March 2023, the carrier forms an integral part of the Kingdom’s ambition to become a global aviation powerhouse under its ‘Vision 2023’ growth plan.
Spurred on by a surge in demand for air travel both to and within Saudi Arabia as part of the ‘Vision 2030’ program, the Kingdom’s carrier will see new airports open, and new aircraft arrive in airline fleets to expand the country’s connectivity to over 250 destinations and tripling annual traffic to 330 million passengers.
This inaugural flight, operating under flight number RX5001, is due to depart from Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport (RUH) to Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport and is expected to last around 90 minutes.
Over the coming months, Riyadh Air is planning to operate several more domestic and international flights as part of the certification process. Although no further details have been revealed by the carrier about potential future routes, these will likely be medium and long-haul destinations unserved by Saudia, given the choice of aircraft selected by Riyadh Air. The carrier currently has 39 787-9 Dreamliners on order with options for an additional 33 of the type.
In a statement released on social media by the airline, Riyadh Air expressed its board’s gratitude to its key partners as it pursues certification. Receiving specific mentions were the GACA for their regulatory oversight, Saudia for the lease of the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner that will make the first flight, Riyadh Airports Company for its logistical support, and Saudia Technic for aircraft.
The nascent carrier has been busy over recent months forging partnerships with other international carriers as part of its strategy allowing it to gain a foothold in key markets from Day One. In June 2024, the airline signed agreements with both Singapore Airlines and Air China, while in early September 2024, the carrier announced a multi-layer commercial agreement with Virgin Atlantic in the UK. Other deals signed include those with Delta Air Lines and Turkish Airlines.
These agreements have been focusing on interline connectivity, codeshare arrangements, and potential collaboration in frequent flyer programs as well as cargo services, and customer experience. Meanwhile, other partnerships entered into the airline have seen it engage with third-party suppliers offering digital innovations such as reservations and distribution systems, flight operations efficiencies, and the use of sustainable aviation fuel to reduce overall carbon emissions.