Saudi Arabia launched its new national carrier Riyadh Air on Wednesday after more than a year of delays. The airline began operations despite ongoing Middle East tensions and regional economic uncertainty. The launch marks a key step in Saudi Arabia’s efforts to diversify its economy beyond oil.
The inaugural London-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner took off from Riyadh at 2:30am local time. The flight represents the first operation of Saudi Arabia’s second state-owned airline. Moreover, the project aims to transform Riyadh into a global aviation hub competing with Dubai.
Riyadh Air is backed by the Public Investment Fund as part of Vision 2030 reforms. The airline has ordered more than 130 Boeing aircraft and additional Airbus jets. Furthermore, it plans to connect over 100 international cities within the next five years.
However, the launch faced delays due to aircraft delivery issues and regional instability. Rising tensions in the Middle East, including attacks near Gulf airports, also raised concerns for aviation growth. Despite this, officials said Riyadh has remained relatively stable compared to other regional hubs.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia continues expanding its aviation infrastructure, including a major new airport in Riyadh. The kingdom aims to triple passenger traffic by 2030 as part of its economic transformation strategy. However, analysts caution that intense competition from established Gulf carriers could challenge these ambitions.