Will Riyadh Air Not Offer First Class? CEO Confirms

The future national airline of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh Air, is anticipated to begin operations in 2024. Tony Douglas, CEO of Riyadh Air, has provided information on what passengers could anticipate from the airline.

According to Douglas, Riyadh Air plans to have three cabins on long-haul jets, including business class, premium economy, and economy. Riyadh Air will not be providing first class.

While Douglas refuses to use first class for Riyadh Air like he did for Etihad, where he pushed for modern, luxurious, and doored business class suites, his confirmation that the airline will offer premium economy seats and service will also help it compete with its competitors.

“There will be more orders to follow and it will enable us to put connectivity into places that fulfill the ambition of the nation, but for the avoidance of doubt, this will be commercially sustainable,” Douglas stated.

The country's relatively central location between Asia, Africa, and Europe makes it a perfect hub for travelers flying to and from all corners of the world. State-owned Riyadh Air wants to serve more than 100 locations across the world by 2030.

With 100 million visitors expected by 2030, Riyadh Air is a committed venture that seeks to open up Saudi Arabia and jump-start its tourism industry.

The company will fly alongside Saudia, another state-owned airline, and the soon-to-be-established Neom Airlines, which will fly in late 2024 or early 2025 and will be more focused on supplying the future of the country's megacity, "Neom," on the Red Sea.