Building Fleet Prior To 2025 Maiden Flight

Airline startup Riyadh Air announced it has placed an order for 60 Airbus A321neo aircraft as it puts together its fleet before launching passenger operations in 2025.

The deal was executed in a signing ceremony in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, between Riyadh Air CEO Tony Douglas and Christian Scherer, CEO of Airbus Commercial Aircraft. The purchase is the second major one for Riyadh Air, which has ordered a total of 132 aircraft, a growth rate unprecedented in scale for an airline that has not begun passenger service yet.

Riyadh Air’s goal is to be known as a premium international airline by equipping its fleet with the most advanced digital features to provide a best-in-class passenger experience. This includes a superior cabin environment as well as the lastest in in-flight connectivity and entertainment.

His Excellency Yasir Al-Rumayyan, Chairman of Riyadh Air and Governor of PIF, Saudi Arabia’s sovereign investment fund, said, “We are pleased to embark on another key milestone in Riyadh Air’s journey with the carrier’s second major fleet order, this time in partnership with Airbus. This deal underlines the airline’s ambitious intentions in advance of next year’s launch as it builds a comprehensive international network and establishes Riyadh as a major strategic global aviation hub.”

Tony Douglas noted, “This order will not only enable us to support economic growth in the aviation industry, it will also ensure Riyadh Air operates one of the most sustainable fleets in the industry and be instrumental in helping Saudi Arabia achieve its net-zero emissions goals. This deal strongly reinforces the positive economic impact of Saudi Arabia’s newest airline on both a global and local scale and helps facilitate the fast-growing local aviation ecosystem.”

Christian Scherer said, “We are proud to welcome Riyadh Air as a new Airbus customer and to be a part of its exciting journey. The latest generation A321neo aircraft, will bring exceptional efficiency to the airline's operations and comfort to its passengers. We look forward to working together to support the incredible growth of Saudi aviation."

FMI:  www.riyadhair.com/