Saudia and Riyadh Air, all the plans of Arab airlines
The challenge to Gulf airlines is on: Saudi Arabia has launched, the new carrier with queen ambitions [...]
Saudia
Riyadh Air
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Saudi Arabia
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The challenge to the Gulf airlines has begun: Saudi Arabia has launched, the new carrier with queen of the skies ambitions on a par with Emirates, Qatar & Company.
The challenge involves coexistence with the other flag carrier, Saudia, to quickly reach 330 million passengers and attract 100 million visitors a year by 2030.
The legacy-low cost mix at the helm
The Riyadh Air project is in the hands of two of the world's most recognized air transport managers: the ceo is tony douglas, the architect of Ethiad Airways' rise on the global stage, while the coo (chief operating officer) is Peter Bellow, head of Ryanair's major European expansion. A nice mix of legacy-low cost skills and experience that could hold more than a few surprises.
But what is most astonishing about Riyadh Air-owned by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF)-is the speed and concreteness of its operational plan: it was supposed to take off in 2024 and instead could already start operations at the end of the year; two days after its official launch, it has already signed an agreement with Boeing to purchase 39 Aircraft B787-9 Dreamliner With options for an additional 33 aircraft of the same model6
After initial talks with Airbus to purchase A350s last fall, Riyadh Air has veered firmly toward the U.S. manufacturer, and for now an all-Boeing fleet is planned.
The 787 order highlights the new airline's plans: to make its base-namely Riyadh airport-a global hub for both international travel over Saudi Arabia and connections between Europe, Africa and Asia. A model that traces precisely the successes of Emirates and Qatar Airways on Dubai and Doha..
Coexistence with Saudia
On the same day, however, the other flag carrier also. Saudia announced the agreement again with Boeing to purchase 49 787 aircraft (model -9 and -10) plus an option for ten more.
A double expansion plan, then, which will see Saudia and Riyadh Air increasingly playing a leading role in the world market with the former getting Will focus more on Jeddah airport. And the second on the capital of the Kingdom.
It remains to be seen whether the two carriers will be able to cooperate following the Emirates-flydubai model (with the latter serving small- to medium-sized airports by offering codeshare with EK) or whether they will keep operations more separate.
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