Saudi Arabia launches Riyadh Air, its second national airline, beginning operations on Wednesday after more than a year of delays. The first flight, a London-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner, departs Riyadh at 2:30am local time (2330 GMT Tuesday), marking the start of a flagship project for the country’s plan to reduce reliance on oil.
Multiple outlets report that the carrier’s launch proceeds despite economic pressures linked to a broader Middle East war and intensifying competition from established Gulf airlines. Riyadh Air is described as Saudi Arabia’s second state-owned airline following Jeddah-based Saudia.
The airline is also positioned as part of a strategy to develop Riyadh as a global aviation hub. Sources say Riyadh Air aims to help make the Saudi capital more competitive with Dubai, which is frequently cited as the world’s busiest airport for international passenger traffic. While the launch reflects the delays and constraints faced during rollout, the reported departure of the first aircraft signals the start of the airline’s planned services.
