Riyadh Air 

The Public Investment Fund company was announced in March 2023 and is chaired by PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan. Tony Douglas serves as chief executive. The airline’s long-term target is to connect Riyadh with more than 100 destinations by 2030, positioning aviation as a contributor to tourism, trade and the kingdom’s broader economic-diversification agenda.

Riyadh Air has moved from aviation start-up to operating airline in 2026, beginning commercial services and rapidly adding destinations as Saudi Arabia builds a new global aviation platform centred on its capital.

After years of preparation, the commercial phase began in June 2026. Riyadh Air launched its first domestic service to Jeddah on June 14, four days after its maiden international commercial flight to London. It then began service to Dubai, Cairo and other markets, while subsequent launches and ticket sales extended its network into destinations including Madrid, Bangkok, Manila and Manchester. In September, the airline opened ticket sales for Milan services scheduled to begin in December.

Fleet expansion underpins that network strategy. Riyadh Air says it has commitments for up to 182 aircraft. Its fleet plan includes Boeing 787 Dreamliners, Airbus A321neo-family aircraft and Airbus A350-1000s. In July 2026, the airline announced additional orders for six A350-1000s and 28 Boeing 787s, including the 787-10, further increasing future wide-body capacity. The company is also developing cargo as a parallel revenue stream. Riyadh Cargo was launched in January 2026 to use belly-hold capacity across the passenger network and support the capital’s ambitions as a logistics hub. Riyadh Air’s significance extends beyond airline economics. The company has previously said its growth could support about 200,000 direct and indirect jobs and contribute close to $20bn to Saudi Arabia’s non-oil GDP.

The key milestone is no longer preparation for launch. It is execution. Riyadh Air now has to scale a young network, induct aircraft, build customer loyalty and maintain service quality while competing with established Gulf and international carriers.