Tony Douglas is swiftly emerging as an iconic figure in the Middle East’s aviation sector, largely owing to his pivotal role as the CEO of Riyadh Air. Appointed in late 2022, Douglas is spearheading the establishment of Saudi Arabia’s ambitious new national carrier, set to take its first commercial flight later this year. His leadership is crucial in transforming the kingdom’s aviation landscape and solidifying its position as a global logistics and travel hub, aligning directly with Saudi Vision 2030. Douglas brings with him an impressive pedigree, boasting nearly three decades of international leadership experience across complex transportation, infrastructure, and defence sectors. Before joining Riyadh Air, he served as the group CEO of Etihad Airways from 2018 to 2022, where he led a significant restructuring and transformation programme. His previous high-profile roles also include CEO of Abu Dhabi Airports Company (overseeing projects like the Midfield Terminal Building) and Abu Dhabi Ports Company, where he delivered the monumental Khalifa Port. In the UK, he held senior positions at BAA (responsible for Heathrow Terminal 5) and as chief operating officer of Laing O’Rourke, demonstrating a remarkable track record of delivering large-scale infrastructure projects.
Under Douglas’s stewardship, Riyadh Air is being built as a digitally native airline with an “obsessive focus on attention to detail and innovation”.
Douglas has articulated a clear vision for the airline, emphasising its role in connecting Saudi Arabia to over 100 destinations globally by 2030. He has stated in a media report:
“The creation of a digitally-led new national airline along with developments to improve our aviation hub will act as a catalyst for many of our Vision 2030 goals.”
His strategic approach not only focuses on elevating the passenger experience to world-class standards but also on ensuring Riyadh Air’s substantial contribution to the kingdom’s non-oil GDP and job creation. Douglas played a key role in the recent deals with Airbus and Rolls-Royce ahead of the airline’s opening later this year.
