All Riyadh Air's plans: from exclusive hub to abolition of First
It is only a year (maybe even less) until Riyad Air officially takes off, and ex-Etihad ceo Tony Douglas continues [...]
Riyadh Air
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Only one year to go (maybe even less) to the official take-off of Riyad Air and ex-Etihad ceo Tony Douglas continues to churn out hints and previews of Saudi Arabia's new airline model.
Some recent statements by Douglas have focused On board experience with the controversial choices to abolish crew uniforms and dispense with First's cabins (almost a requirement for Middle Eastern carriers).
In the meantime, however, it seems official the approach that will see Two hub airports for the two companies of state with Riyadh concentrating on flights to and from the Kingdom's capital, undermining Saudia, which will have only Jeddah airport as its hub.
Two companies for two airports
A division that will not happen in 2025 with the start of Riyadh Air's flights, but it will be a gradual transition culminating effectively from 2030.
When the birth of the new Saudi carrier was announced last spring, one of the most important issues was precisely that related to the Collaborative competition between the "old" Saudia and the new Riyadh. Both carriers' top executives had stated that there would be no overlap and that the two operators would cooperate and operate out of both major airports in the Kingdom.
Over the months, however, Saudia has renewed branding and livery and Riyadh has been much talked about with early aircraft orders and massive marketing efforts. A few weeks ago, finally, came confirmation from the trade journal AirwaysMag.
From 20230, therefore, Saudia will only operate from the King Abdulaziz International Airport of Jeddah - which will be renovated and expanded in the meantime becoming a large financial enclave - while Riyadh Air will take over the King Khalid International Airport of Riyadh.
The two carriers, however will operate under a special codehsare and interline agreement that will ensure international connections and a special air link between the two airports.
Farewell to first class
The ceo of Riyadh Air, Tony Douglas, then announced some news while participating in the Skift Global Forum 2023 Dubai. First among them the abolition of uniforms for the crew. "We will not have official uniforms, but rather there will be a supply of a clothing kit developed by our designers that can be worn following styles and patterns that we indicate," Douglas said.
But the most revealing news seems to be the non-presence of first class cabins. "It was a very conscious decision, driven by financial and environmental sustainability, which are values of the airline. First for many carriers is a Commercially unsustainable act of charity and selfish," the ceo stressed, putting Riyad Air's plan at the center, however.
"I think when you see our booths (which will be unveiled by the first half of 2024, ed.) our Premium Economy will be better than most of the Businesses you see around; just as our Economy will surpass the level of many Premium ones. In the marketplace, Riyadh Air's Business will surpass some of the Firsts around the world."
A bombastic announcement that concedes everything to marketing and little to factual reality, at least until we can see the long-awaited booths and their services live.
Beyond marketing: the fleet
Back to reality, however, the airline is waiting to receive the 40 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner (plus another 30 or so optional) ordered last June, and is expected to sign new orders for about 150 737MAX aircraft. Riyadh Air, in fact, plans to serve 110 destinations and order about 400 aircraft by 2030.
Riyadh Air is focusing heavily on the announcements and on expectations of the aviation world, but it will have to match this enthusiasm and the innovative, high-end travel model it proposes.
At this point - according to Douglas' statements - we should expect a Business with 1-1-1 configuration and floor-to-ceiling doors (and many, many amenities); a Premium with full-flat seats that become actual beds; and a spacious, quality Economy in a 2-3-2 configuration.
It will be interesting to see, then, how these planes will be outfitted to offer all this space and sufficient seating. And at what price.
If all these ambitions are fulfilled, Riyadh will be able to say that it has Revolutionized the level of service and cabins on board. But it will always have to come to terms with the market and the affordability of the offer; the same one that was the main reason for not including First class.
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